The Office of the Special Prosecutor has rejected reports suggesting that criminal charges against former Finance Minister, Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta were found not to be credible by a United States immigration court.
In a statement, the OSP said it had taken note of media reports and a publication attributed to a Ghanaian law firm claiming that Mr Ofori-Atta had been granted permanent residency in the United States after an immigration court allegedly questioned the credibility of charges brought against him in Ghana.
The Special Prosecutor’s office said it was not involved in any immigration proceedings concerning Mr Ofori-Atta in the United States.
According to the OSP, its involvement relates only to extradition proceedings being pursued through Ghana’s Attorney General, who acts as the central authority in such matters.
The office stressed that the extradition request submitted by Ghana is not before the US immigration court. It added that the validity of the criminal charges against Mr Ofori-Atta can only be determined by the courts in Ghana, which have jurisdiction to decide on his guilt or innocence.
The OSP further stated that Mr Ofori-Atta remains a Ghanaian citizen and is still subject to extradition to Ghana if a US extradition court rules in favour of such a request.
The statement seeks to clarify the distinction between immigration proceedings in the United States and the separate extradition process being pursued by Ghanaian authorities.
