Extradition of Ghanaian suspects from the US may not be ‘very quick’ – US Embassy explains

The Government of the United States says it remains open to extradition requests from Ghana but has cautioned that the process is often lengthy due to established legal procedures that must be followed.
Speaking at a media roundtable in Accra, the U.S. Chargé d’Affaires, Rolf Olson, explained that while Washington cooperates with partner countries on law enforcement matters, extradition cases are subject to strict protocols and judicial review, which can take considerable time.

His remarks were made during a conversation with journalists alongside William B. Stevens, the visiting Deputy Assistant Secretary for West Africa at the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of African Affairs.

“The process of evaluating an extradition request on the American side is very well-established, and it is generally not very quick,” Mr Olson said.

He stressed that the U.S. does not prejudge extradition requests, noting that such matters are ultimately decided by American courts.

“If the U.S. receives a request, it goes through the various mechanisms. But the door is always open to requests. There is no individual case that can be prejudged because U.S. judges make the decision, and they have the ability to approve or disapprove a request,” he added.

The comments come amid growing public scrutiny over why the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has not yet succeeded in securing the extradition of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, who has been on the OSP’s wanted list since the beginning of the year.

On Thursday, December 11, the OSP commenced a trial in absentia after filing a 78-count indictment alleging corruption and financial loss to the state.

Addressing the court, the OSP stated that some accused persons, including Mr Ofori-Atta, are currently outside Ghana and have cited health reasons for their absence.

The prosecution said it has invoked appropriate legal mechanisms, including summons and cooperation with international law enforcement agencies, to ensure compliance with court processes.

Public interest in the matter has intensified in recent days, with more than 3,100 people signing an online petition addressed to the U.S. Embassy in Accra as of Monday, December 8, 2025.

The petition was initiated on December 2 by U.S.-based Ghanaian law professor Stephen Kweku Asare, calling on American authorities to work with the Government of Ghana to extradite Mr Ofori-Atta.

The petition urges the U.S. Embassy to help confirm Mr Ofori-Atta’s location, facilitate cooperation between Ghanaian and U.S. authorities, and expedite the processing of any formal extradition request.

Despite the complexity of extradition proceedings, U.S. authorities say cooperation with Ghana remains active.

According to Mr Olson, American law enforcement agencies have already extradited nine Ghanaians in 2025, with most cases linked to romance scams and other forms of transnational cybercrime that have become increasingly prevalent in the West African sub-region.

The U.S. Embassy says it remains committed to working with Ghanaian authorities to combat cross-border crime while respecting due process and judicial independence.