The Director of Communications of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Ahiagbah, has argued that former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta’s reported United States Green Card status does not shield him from prosecution in Ghana if there is a valid case against him.
His comments come amid ongoing debate over efforts by Ghanaian authorities to extradite the former minister to face corruption-related charges, alongside comparisons with previous extradition and conviction cases involving former MASLOC Chief Executive Sedina Attionu-Tamakloe.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s “The Big Issue” on Saturday, June 20, Mr. Ahiagbah argued that immigration status in another country does not remove the jurisdiction of Ghanaian courts.
He maintained that Ghana’s Constitution allows for prosecution in absentia under Article 19, insisting that legal proceedings can continue even if an accused person is outside the country.
According to him, the state has sufficient legal mechanisms, including formal service procedures and international cooperation frameworks, to pursue cases involving individuals residing abroad.
Mr. Ahiagbah further stressed that Ofori-Atta remains subject to Ghanaian law, arguing that if the state has evidence, it must proceed with prosecution regardless of his residency or immigration status abroad.
“It doesn’t suggest that the state doesn’t have leverage to prosecute him in any case if they have a case against him and in fact, the announcement of the United States Embassy here in Ghana when Sedina was brought back, I think I recall a statement in there that says that crime has no borders.
“So, which means that wherever Ken is in America, particularly now that there’s precedence suggesting a cooperation between our state and their state, consistent with some treaty that we have with them way back in 1931, if that has been exemplified now, has been operationalised to bring Sedina back, it just tells you that the avenue exists if they want to bring Ken back. Now start a case against him, if you have a case.”
Credit to Channelonenews.com
