Ofori-Atta has done himself a disservice — Wonder Madilo on ICE detention

A member of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) communication team, Wonder Madilo, has criticised former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta over his continued refusal to return to Ghana amid corruption allegations.

Mr. Ofori-Atta was detained in the United States by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Tuesday, January 6, over the status of his stay.

His lawyers explained that he has a pending petition for adjustment of status, which allows a person to remain legally in the US beyond the validity of their visa, and noted that this is a common procedure under US law.

The detention is not directly related to the extradition request submitted by the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, to bring Ofori-Atta back to Ghana to face corruption charges.

Speaking on Accra-based Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana show on Friday, January 9, Madilo argued that the former minister could have avoided the current complications by returning to Ghana earlier.

“Indeed, it was not his private business; he was running the country. But I think he has done himself a lot of disservice by the inconsistencies with which they have approached this matter,” he said, referring to Ofori-Atta’s delays and repeated changes in his planned return dates.

Madilo also criticised the handling of public statements surrounding Ofori-Atta’s stay in the US, saying they have worsened perceptions about his commitment to accountability.

“Almost every paragraph of the explanations we have received builds on conjecture and does not help his cause. This is a concerning situation that undermines public confidence,” he stated.