'Take note of Sedina Tamakloe's extradition and come home' — Kwame Jantuah to Ofori-Atta

A leading member of the Convention People's Party (CPP), Lawyer Kwame Jantuah, has called on former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta to return to Ghana and face ongoing legal processes against him.

The call follows the extradition of former Chief Executive Officer of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu, who was taken into custody on Tuesday, June 9, to begin serving a 10-year prison sentence.

Ms. Tamakloe-Attionu was convicted in April 2024 by the High Court in absentia on charges including causing financial loss to the state, stealing, conspiracy, money laundering and procurement breaches.

Following her conviction, Ghana submitted a formal extradition request to the United States in July 2024, seeking her return to serve the sentence.

Speaking on the GBC Breakfast Show on Wednesday, June 10, Lawyer Jantuah said the successful extradition of the former MASLOC boss should serve as a lesson to Ofori-Atta.

He noted that claims that Ms. Tamakloe-Attionu would not return to Ghana because of the change in government had proven unfounded.

"Because they indicated that Sedina would not come because NDC is in power. She has come. Are they now going to appeal to that kind of rhetoric? Look, come. If I were Ken, I would drop everything and come," he said.

The CPP stalwart argued that voluntarily returning to Ghana would be in the former Finance Minister's own interest and could help avoid negative public perceptions.

According to him, allowing extradition proceedings to take their course could create an impression of guilt even before any court determination is made.

"You know, there will be perception in the mind that he's guilty when we don't know whether he's guilty or not, because by law he's innocent until proven guilty. So, for me, I think Ofori-Atta should take note from this. Please come," he added.

Meanwhile, Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, is expected to engage officials of the United States Department of Justice on pending extradition requests involving Ghana and the United States.

One of the high-profile cases expected to feature in those discussions is that of Mr. Ofori-Atta, who is being sought by Ghanaian authorities in connection with corruption-related allegations under prosecution by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).

The former Finance Minister is also facing immigration-related challenges after being detained by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).