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I would gladly hand over Abu Trica for Ken Ofori Atta in return – Attorney General
The Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, has explained that although Ghana was ready to cooperate fully in extradition matters, the return of former Finance Minister Ken Oforiata from the United States could not happen instantly because the process must go through the courts.
Speaking during the Government Accountability Series, Dr Ayine stated that the principle of reciprocity applied in extradition matters and noted that Ghana had already handed over Abu Trica when requested.
He indicated that he would have been happy to quickly receive Ken Ofori Atta in return, but stressed that extradition was a judicial process and not a simple exchange between governments.
The Attorney General explained that extradition cases are handled by courts of competent jurisdiction. In Ghana, such matters are determined by district courts, while in the United States, they are handled by federal district courts.
He noted that once a person becomes the subject of an extradition request, that person is entitled to challenge the process in court. As a result, the American authorities cannot simply receive a request and immediately hand over the individual involved.
Dr Ayine disclosed that he had recently been informed that Ken Ofori Atta had hired very experienced lawyers in the United States to contest the extradition.
He emphasized that he was not afraid of this development, but acknowledged that it meant a legal battle was likely in the US courts.
According to him, if a federal district court rules against the extradition, the accused person could appeal to a circuit court and even proceed to the United States Supreme Court.
He explained that for this reason, it was not possible to give timelines on when the former finance minister might return to Ghana.
The Attorney General noted that being accountable to the public required honesty and clarity, adding that the government could not mislead Ghanaians into expecting an immediate outcome.
He assured the public that on behalf of the government of President John Dramani Mahama, all the necessary legal steps had been taken to bring Ken Ofori Atta to Ghana to face trial.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Speaker of the Algerian Parliament, Mr. Azouz Nasri, has arrived in Accra to take part in the Next Steps High-Level Consultative Conference on the implementation of the landmark United Nations Resolution on the Trafficking of Enslaved Africans.
He was received at the Jubilee Lounge, Kotoka International Airport, by Ghana’s First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Bernard Ahiafor.
The 3-day conference runs from June 17–19, 2026 in Accra. It will bring together parliamentary leaders, diplomats, civil society, and other key stakeholders to reflect on the implications of the UN Resolution for Africans and people of African descent worldwide.
Organisers say the meeting is aimed at advancing a coordinated global framework to strengthen advocacy around the Resolution and provide practical guidance for its implementation across member states.
The Resolution is described as a historic step toward acknowledging the transatlantic slave trade and addressing its lasting impact, with this conference marking one of the first high-level efforts to move it from declaration to action.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Aspiring National Chairman for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Awentami Paul Afoko, has stated that the party has a unique opportunity to annex power in the 2028 elections.
According to him, the one person who has been on Ghana’s ballot paper for several elections will not be on the ballot paper in the 2028 elections, paving the way for the NPP to properly market its flagbearer Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, who is already a formidable force to reckon with and will go ahead to win the polls.
He argued that voters already know him, he’s battle-tested and ready to win.
He reiterated that the NPP will have a well-marketed candidate in the 2028 election and just as the party did in 2016 when it annexed power from a sitting government, the same can be done.
The Former NPP National Chairman, however, noted that this can be possible if the NPP unites as a unit and approach the elections with all the seriousness it deserves to ensure that its quest for victory does not become a mirage.
Mr Awentami Paul Afoko made this known when he met with Regional Executives, Patrons and Elders of the party in the Volta, Oti and Eastern Regions yesterday.
“For the first time we have a unique opportunity. At the time I put the New Plan for Power in place, we knew that the sitting president could go again and if he won another term, we would sit in opposition for twelve years.
We had to put a plan in place to make sure we come to power and we came to power. This time around, he will not be on the ballot paper and this offers us a unique opportunity, but without unity we will not get there,” he stated.
“As for unity, it is not negotiable. You can’t sit here and look at the lady sitting next to you and say I don’t like her so we can’t work together. We are working together for power, and if we let emotions get in the way, we lose” he said.
“Those of you who are old enough to remember Muhammad Ali the boxer, he is in the ring with you, he’s talking and calling you names then you get emotional and he takes advantage. Emotions won’t give us power. I didn’t get anything so I won’t support; no, let that go because it is in the past,” he noted.
Afoko, who is pushing his 3R Agenda of Reunite, Rebuild, and Recapture power, said the party must adopt a clear message to win back the confidence of Ghanaians and believes, with Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, whom he described as the right candidate will guarantee the NPP victory in the 2028 polls.
“For years I chose to work quietly behind the scenes, supporting the NPP in private,” Afoko said.
“But recent developments have compelled me to step forward. We need to get our party back into winning ways, and that starts with unity of purpose,” Afoko reiterated.
He framed the upcoming period as a test of whether NPP politics would mature or remain stuck in cycles of blame, but was optimistic that everyone who loves the party would come on board to realize the goal of making Dr Mahamudu Bawumia the next President of Ghana.
By: Jacob Aggrey
