President John Dramani Mahama has acknowledged that the Government of Ghana has no direct control over efforts to return former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta to face trial, underscoring the growing complexity of a case now firmly in the hands of U.S. courts.

Speaking on March 30, 2026, during a Presidential Dialogue with Civil Society Organisations in Accra—attended by representatives from over 160 groups—President Mahama responded to mounting public concern over delays in securing Ofori-Atta’s return.

A representative of Arise Ghana had warned that failure to extradite the former minister could erode public trust in Ghana’s justice system. In response, the President was unequivocal about the limits of executive authority.

“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. It is all in the hands of the American judiciary,” Mahama stated, stressing that Ghana must allow due process in the United States to take its course.

His remarks come against the backdrop of an aggressive push by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government to secure Ofori-Atta’s return since taking office in January 2025.

Shortly after assuming power, authorities—through the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) and the Attorney-General’s Department—initiated investigations into several high-profile financial transactions tied to Ofori-Atta’s tenure between 2017 and 2023.

These included the controversial Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML) revenue assurance contract and other procurement-related matters.

By late 2025, the OSP had filed dozens of charges against Ofori-Atta and his associates, accusing them of corruption and causing significant financial loss to the state.

Ghana subsequently moved to internationalise the case, first through an INTERPOL Red Notice—later deleted—and then through formal extradition proceedings submitted to U.S. authorities.

However, the legal process has since become entangled in the complexities of U.S. law. Ofori-Atta was arrested on January 6, 2026, by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) over alleged immigration violations following the revocation of his visa.

He has since remained in custody at the Caroline Detention Facility, where he is simultaneously contesting deportation and the extradition request.

President Mahama explained that these parallel legal tracks—immigration enforcement and extradition—have complicated the efforts.

“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 said.

While the government maintains its commitment to bringing Ofori-Atta back to Ghana, his legal team has mounted a strong defence in the United States.

His lawyers, including Frank Davies and U.S.-based counsel, have argued that the former minister is being subjected to a “political witch hunt” and would not receive a fair trial if returned.

They have also indicated that Ofori-Atta is pursuing permanent residency in the United States, a move that could further complicate extradition efforts.

The legal team has consistently challenged both the narrative of him being a fugitive and the basis of the charges, pointing to procedural concerns, political commentary surrounding the case, and earlier international developments such as the deletion of the INTERPOL Red Notice.

They insist that due process in the United States must be respected and that their client will continue to fight both deportation and extradition through the courts.

Meanwhile, proceedings in Ghana have been repeatedly delayed due to Ofori-Atta’s absence. Prosecutors have told the High Court in Accra that efforts to serve him with criminal summons and complete extradition processes are ongoing, leading to adjournments of the trial involving him and several co-accused persons.

The next major test in the U.S. legal process is scheduled for April 27, 2026, when Ofori-Atta is expected to reappear before an immigration court in Virginia.

That hearing could determine whether he remains in detention, is deported, or continues his legal fight to stay in the United States.