OSP refutes claims US Immigration Court dismissed its charges against Ofori-Atta

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has rejected reports suggesting that a United States immigration court found the criminal charges against former Finance Minister Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta to be lacking in credibility.

In a statement issued by the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, the OSP described as false media reports and claims attributed to a Ghanaian law firm that Mr. Ofori-Atta had secured permanent residency in the United States after an immigration court allegedly questioned the credibility of the criminal case against him.

The OSP clarified that it is not a party to Mr. Ofori-Atta's immigration proceedings in the United States and has no role in matters relating to his immigration status. It explained that its mandate is limited to pursuing extradition through Ghana's Attorney-General, who serves as the country's central authority in extradition matters.

According to the office, the extradition request filed against the former minister is not before the US immigration court. It stressed that only the courts in Ghana, which have jurisdiction over the criminal proceedings, are legally empowered to determine the merits or credibility of the charges against him.

The Special Prosecutor further stated that Mr. Ofori-Atta remains a Ghanaian citizen and continues to be subject to Ghana's legal processes. It noted that he could still be extradited to Ghana if the appropriate extradition court in the United States grants the request.

The OSP said its statement was intended to correct misinformation linking Mr. Ofori-Atta's reported immigration status in the United States to the criminal proceedings currently pending against him in Ghana. It maintained that the two matters are separate and should not be conflated.