Call for Ofori-Atta’s extradition or risk public trust – Franklin Cudjoe to NPP

The Chief Executive Officer of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, has urged the NPP to support efforts to extradite former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta to Ghana.

In a social media post on Sunday, Mr. Cudjoe said the opposition party’s leadership must engage the diplomatic community, particularly the U.S. Embassy in Accra, to facilitate the return of Mr. Ofori-Atta to answer questions regarding his tenure as Finance Minister.

“It is imperative that the leadership of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) immediately calls on the diplomatic community, particularly the U.S. Embassy in Accra, to urge relevant U.S. authorities to extradite former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta back to Ghana,” he stated.

According to him, the former minister must account for decisions taken during his stewardship, which he argued severely undermined Ghana’s international standing and weakened confidence in the country’s economy.

Mr. Cudjoe further warned that the NPP risks damaging its own credibility if it fails to take a clear position on the matter.

“Should the NPP fail to undertake this critical task, they risk losing the trust, respect, and recognition of the Ghanaian people as a party capable of delivering accountable governance,” he said.

Ken Ofori-Atta served as Finance Minister for more than seven years under the New Patriotic Party administration led by former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. During his tenure, he supervised major economic policies, debt restructuring efforts and negotiations with international financial institutions.

Since leaving office, however, he has become the subject of multiple investigations by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP). He is currently facing 78 counts of corruption and corruption-related offences linked to the controversial Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) revenue assurance contract.

The allegations involve claims that decisions taken under the agreement caused a financial loss of more than GH¢1.4 billion to the state.

Mr. Ofori-Atta was first declared a wanted fugitive by the OSP on February 12, 2025, and was again declared wanted on June 2, 2025, after failing to return to Ghana for scheduled interrogations. The development prompted Interpol to issue a Red Notice, although that notice was later withdrawn.

Last week, he was granted lawful permanent residency in the United States after a U.S. immigration court approved his I-485 petition, bringing to an end removal proceedings that had earlier been initiated against him by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.