Legal practitioner and activist Oliver Barker-Vormawor has claimed that the United States could have returned former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta to Ghana if it truly wanted to do so.
In a social media post on May 17, 2026, Barker-Vormawor argued that the cancellation of Ofori-Atta’s visa alone could have been enough to force his return to Ghana.
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“If the Americans wanted to return Ken Ofori-Atta, the moment they cancelled his visa, they would have bundled him on a flight to Ghana,” he stated.
He further alleged that several West Africans had previously been deported to Ghana by US authorities despite ongoing court cases and legal orders.
“100s of West African nations have been sent to Ghana despite Court orders saying they can’t. Some were just bundled despite ongoing court cases, to Ghana. We allowed them to do this,” he said.
According to Barker-Vormawor, Ofori-Atta's continued stay outside Ghana could be part of a political strategy to pressure the NDC government.
“So for me, this is a case of if they wanted, they would. My suspicion is that they will continue to hold on to him as leverage against the Government, so that the more political pressure mounts on the NDC for failing to bring him, the more they can use him as a bargaining chip to get even more from us,” he stated.
The activist also suggested that Ghana should be prepared to respond strategically if such pressure tactics continue.
“But two can play that game! 'Eneke the bird says that since men have learned to shoot without missing, he has learned to fly without perching,” he added.
Barker-Vormawor also referenced the PNDC era and the well-known Soussoudis-Sharon Scranage affair, urging President John Dramani Mahama and his ministers to take note of history.
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“They need to cast their mind back to what the PNDC did to them on the Soussoudis-Sharon Scranage affair. Someone tag Mahama and his Ministers for me,” he wrote.
If the Americans wanted to return Ken Ofori-Atta, the moment they cancelled his visa; they would have bundled him on a flight to Ghana.
— Osagyefo Oliver Barker-Vormawor (@barkervogues) May 17, 2026
100s of West African nations have been sent to Ghana despite Court orders saying they can’t. Some were just bundled despite ongoing court…
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