The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dr Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, on Thursday, December 18, 2025, disclosed that embattled former Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, has hired some of the top lawyers in the United States to contest the extradition processes initiated against him.

Dr Ayine, highlighting the high calibre of the lawyers, described them as “very experienced.”

“I just got to know yesterday that he has hired some of the top lawyers in the United States of America, very experienced lawyers to defend him. Now, I'm not afraid at all, I am not afraid at all. But it means that there is going to be a fight in the federal courts in the US," Dr Ayine disclosed.

Following this disclosure, GhanaWeb conducted research into the possible hourly rates charged by top US lawyers specialising in extradition cases indicates that such legal services are highly expensive.

Findings show that fees may range from a minimum of $400 to over $1,000 per hour, depending on the case. For more complex matters, hourly rates may reach up to $3,000 per hour.

Ofori-Atta has hired top lawyers in the US but I'm not afraid – AG

Costs also vary widely based on a lawyer’s experience, reputation, firm size, and the complexity of the case.

In some high-profile criminal defense cases, similar in complexity to extradition proceedings, top attorneys' hourly rates have reportedly exceeded $2,000 per hour.

Overall, for someone contesting extradition with a top US legal team, fees could easily run from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars, with elite attorneys charging $2,000–$3,000 or more per hour.

Meanwhile, Dr Ayine emphasised that the calibre of lawyers hired by Ofori-Atta does not deter his resolve to bring the former minister back to Ghana to face justice.

He noted, however, that the requirement for the extradition request to be processed in the US courts may delay Ofori-Atta’s return and make it difficult to determine a potential date for his arrival.

NB: It is also important to note that these rates may vary depending on the current year, the case at hand, the caliber of legal firm, the experience of the attorneys, and prevailing market conditions.

MAG/MA

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