The Mahama administration may be preparing to intensify efforts to secure the return of former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta to Ghana, to face criminal prosecution following a disclosure that Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, is scheduled to engage officials of the United States Department of Justice on pending extradition requests between the two countries.
The revelation, contained in a Facebook post by Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, shortly after the arrival of former Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Chief Executive Officer Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu, in Ghana on Tuesday, has generated considerable public interest.
According to him, “”Meanwhile, the Attorney-General is scheduled to meet his counterparts at the United States Department of Justice for bilateral discussion on all pending extradition requests between the two countries.”
Although the statement did not mention any individual by name, the planned discussions have renewed attention on the extradition request submitted by Ghana, in respect of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta.
The development comes at a time when the government has repeatedly pledged to pursue persons accused of corruption and causing financial loss to the state, irrespective of their political affiliation or former positions in public office.
AG to discuss pending extradition requests
In the post announcing Madam Tamakloe-Attionu’s return to Ghana, Mr Kwakye Ofosu disclosed that Dr Ayine is expected to hold bilateral discussions with officials of the United States Department of Justice on all pending extradition requests involving the two countries.
The disclosure has been interpreted by many observers as a strong indication that government intends to vigorously pursue the return of other individuals wanted by Ghanaian authorities who are believed to be residing abroad.
The announcement comes against the backdrop of ongoing efforts by the government to secure the extradition of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, whose case remains one of the most closely watched corruption-related prosecutions in the country.
Spotlight on Ofori-Atta
Attention has now shifted to the extradition request submitted by Ghana in December 2025 for Mr Ofori-Atta and Mr Akore.
The request followed investigations by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) into contracts awarded to Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) for revenue assurance and auditing services for the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
On November 18, 2025 the OSP filed 78 counts of corruption and corruption-related offences before the Criminal Division of the High Court against Ofori-Atta, Mr Akore, SML, its Chief Executive Officer, Evans Adusei and several former officials of the GRA.
According to court documents, the accused persons are alleged to have engaged in acts that improperly influenced procurement processes to secure unfair advantages in the award and execution of the SML contracts.
The charges include allegations of causing financial loss to the state, using public office for private benefit, conspiracy, procurement breaches and other corruption-related offences.
Prosecutors contend that the transactions resulted in significant financial losses to the state and that public procurement processes were manipulated to favour SML.
The accused persons have denied any wrongdoing.
How the extradition process began
Following the filing of the charges, the OSP formally wrote to the Attorney-General on November 19, 2025 requesting the commencement of extradition proceedings against Ofori-Atta and Mr Akore, who were believed to be in the United States.
Attorney-General Dr Ayine subsequently disclosed that his office reviewed the request and sought additional documentation from the OSP to ensure compliance with the legal requirements governing international extradition proceedings.
According to him, the requested documents were submitted on December 9, 2025, after which the Attorney-General’s Department completed the extradition package.
The completed documents were transmitted through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the United States Department of Justice on December 10, 2025.
Announcing the development at the Government Accountability Series on December 18, 2025 Dr Ayine explained that the matter had effectively moved into the American judicial system and would be determined in accordance with United States extradition laws and procedures.
He stressed that extradition proceedings are often lengthy because individuals being sought have the right to challenge requests through various stages of the court process.
78 Charges before court
While declining to discuss the detailed particulars of the case because the matter was before the courts, Dr Ayine disclosed that prosecutors had filed 78 charges against the accused persons.
Court filings indicate that Ofori-Atta faces multiple counts linked to the SML contracts, while Mr Akore and several former GRA officials are also facing various charges arising from the same transaction.
The case has attracted significant public attention because of Ofori-Atta’s central role in managing Ghana’s economy during the Akufo-Addo administration and the substantial sums allegedly involved in the transactions under investigation.
Legal analysts say the matter is likely to test the strength of international cooperation between Ghana and the United States in corruption-related prosecutions, particularly if the extradition request proceeds through the full American judicial process.
Sedina extradition provides precedent
The renewed focus on the Ofori-Atta matter follows the successful extradition of Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu from the United States.
In his statement earlier referenced, Mr Kwakye Ofosu disclosed that Tamakloe-Attionu arrived in Accra after the conclusion of extradition proceedings initiated by Ghana, following her conviction and sentencing in absentia by the High Court in April 2024.
According to the government spokesman, Ghana formally submitted an extradition request to the United States in July 2024 after the former MASLOC boss was convicted.
After more than two years of legal proceedings, United States authorities notified Ghana earlier this year of their decision to surrender her to serve her sentence.
Upon her arrival on Tuesday, officials of the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana Prisons Service took custody of the former MASLOC Chief Executive to begin the necessary processes for her imprisonment.
Anti-corruption agenda
The Mahama administration has consistently presented its anti-corruption campaign as a central pillar of governance under Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL).
Government officials have repeatedly stated that efforts to recover public funds and prosecute persons suspected of wrongdoing will continue irrespective of status, influence or political affiliation.
With the Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu extradition now successfully concluded, attention is expected to increasingly focus on the fate of Ghana’s extradition request for former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta and other pending cases before American authorities.
For many observers, the Attorney-General’s upcoming discussions with officials of the United States Department of Justice could provide the clearest indication yet of the progress being made in Ghana’s efforts to secure the return of individuals facing criminal proceedings before its courts.
