Mahama: Ofori-Atta’s extradition outcome beyond Ghana’s control

President John Dramani Mahama has stated that the government has no influence over the outcome of the extradition proceedings involving former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, noting that the matter is now entirely in the hands of the United States judiciary.

The President made the remarks on March 30, 2026, during a Presidential Dialogue with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Accra. His comments came in response to concerns raised by a representative from Arise Ghana, who warned that a failure to secure Mr Ofori-Atta’s return to face justice could erode public trust in the country’s democratic system.

Mr Mahama emphasised the limitations of his administration’s authority in the matter, explaining that two separate but parallel legal processes are currently underway in the US.

“I cannot comment on the extradition of our former finance minister because it is in a different jurisdiction and I have no control over it,” President Mahama said. “It is all in the hands of the American judiciary, and it is not within our effort to influence that.”

He clarified that while Ghana has formally submitted an extradition request, the government must allow the US legal process to run its course.

The President further explained that the former minister is navigating two distinct legal challenges in the US. The first relates to Ghana’s extradition request, while the second concerns an immigration matter stemming from the revocation of Mr Ofori-Atta’s visitor visa by US authorities.

“There are two parallel issues. One is the extradition request by Ghana, and the other is the immigration issue. The arrest was made by ICE for violating immigration status, and there is also the additional issue of the extradition,” he stated.

Mr Ofori-Atta is contesting the extradition request while simultaneously seeking permanent residency in the United States. His legal team has argued that he would not receive a fair trial if returned to Ghana. The US immigration court has scheduled a hearing in the matter for April 27, 2026.

The dialogue with CSOs forms part of the Mahama administration’s broader “Resetting Ghana Tour,” a series of engagements planned to cover all 16 regions.