Keep quiet, you’ve little knowledge on Ofori-Atta’s matter – Frank Davies to Amaliba

A member of Ken Ofori-Atta’s legal team, Frank Davies, has criticised lawyer Abraham Amaliba over comments on the former finance minister’s legal situation in the United States.

Mr Davies rejected claims that lawyers representing the former finance minister in Ghana are uninformed about developments surrounding his reported detention by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

He described the assertions as unfounded and misleading.

Appearing on Prime Insight on Joy Prime on Saturday, January 10, Mr Davies reacted to a viral video in which Mr Amaliba questioned the level of information available to Ofori-Atta’s Ghana-based lawyers.

In the video, Mr Amaliba suggested that US lawyers involved in the matter had gone quiet after the ICE detention, leaving the case in the hands of lawyers in Ghana who allegedly lacked adequate details.

“Well, Amaliba, my good friend, is a trained lawyer. And when lawyers talk in this pedestrian manner, I got a bit worried,” Mr Davies said.

He questioned the basis of Mr Amaliba’s claims, insisting that cross-border legal collaboration is standard practice.

“What does he know about engagement between American lawyers and lawyers?” he asked. “If he’s doing a case in Ghana and there’s another leg in America, is he trying to suggest that American lawyers will not give him feedback as to what is happening?”

Mr Davies warned against lawyers making public commentary on matters they do not fully grasp.

“When people have little knowledge of something, it is better for them to keep quiet rather than go around embarrassing themselves and saying all kinds of things because they want to be heard on the radio or television,” he said. “It is needless.”

He also turned the criticism back on the governing authorities, urging attention to other unresolved extradition matters.

“I would say that his government is in power. Sedinam Tamakloe-Attionu has been convicted, regularly and legally, by a court of competent jurisdiction. She’s a criminal fugitive, and she is in America,” Mr Davies stated. “Tell him that while he’s talking about Ken, he should tell his Attorney General to also start extradition proceedings to bring Sedinam to Ghana to come and answer for her crime.”

On the status of Mr Ofori-Atta’s detention, Mr Davies confirmed that legal processes have already been initiated in the United States.

“The lawyers in America have filed the process in court to challenge his custody in ICE detention,” he said.

He disclosed that the matter is expected to be heard later this month and questioned the expectation that US lawyers should be speaking publicly while legal action is ongoing.

“That process will be heard later this month. What does he expect the lawyers in America to be saying?” Mr Davies asked.

He stressed that the case is being handled through cooperation between legal teams in both jurisdictions.

“That is why we are here as lawyers, because we have collaboration and teamwork with American lawyers.”