The lawyer for former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has dismissed claims that his client is avoiding justice, describing the case as politically driven.
In an interview with the BBC, international legal counsel Enayat Qasimi explained that authorities were fully aware that Mr. Ofori-Atta was abroad for medical treatment. He argued that the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) had no grounds to issue a Red Notice.
Mr. Ofori-Atta faces 78 corruption-related charges, along with seven others, over the Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML) revenue assurance contract with the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA). The charges involve alleged violations of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), and the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663).
Qasimi emphasized that his client is willing to cooperate with Ghana’s legal process. “He is fully committed to complying with the laws of Ghana and answering for anything he did when he was finance minister,” he said.
The lawyer also raised concerns about whether Mr. Ofori-Atta’s constitutional rights are being upheld and reiterated that a Red Notice was unnecessary since authorities knew he was undergoing medical treatment in the United States.
Meanwhile, on December 18, the Minister for Justice and Attorney General, Dr. Dominic Ayine, confirmed that his office had submitted a formal extradition request to the U.S. for Ken Ofori-Atta and alleged accomplice Ernest Akore.
