Ghanaian media personality Okatakyie Afrifa-Mensah has criticised Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, accusing him of misleading the public over claims that steps are being taken to extradite former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.

Speaking on his For the Records programme on Monday, December 22, Afrifa-Mensah questioned the credibility of the Attorney General’s statements, insisting that no concrete legal action has been demonstrated to support claims that a case has been filed against Ofori-Atta.

According to Afrifa-Mensah, the Attorney General has failed to provide evidence that extradition proceedings have commenced, describing the public commentary on the matter as an attempt to manipulate public perception.

“You are not being honest with the people on this matter. The Attorney General has not shown any proof that he has filed a case against Ken Ofori-Atta. So, the simple question is: where is Hon. Ken Ofori-Atta?” he asked.

Why A-G will not be able to extradite Ken Ofori-Atta to Ghana - Lawyer explains

Afrifa-Mensah took particular issue with Dr Ayine’s assertion that the extradition process begins in a “competent court of federal jurisdiction,” arguing that the statement lacked clarity and legal specificity.

He explained that the United States operates 92 federal district courts, with some states, including New York, having multiple federal districts.

According to him, without identifying the specific federal jurisdiction in which Ofori-Atta is located, no valid extradition process can begin.

“If you study law and do not understand jurisdiction, then you have wasted your time. You cannot start an extradition process in a court that does not exist or whose jurisdiction you cannot identify,” he said.

Afrifa-Mensah further dismissed claims that the former Finance Minister is actively challenging an extradition request, insisting that no such process has been triggered.

He stressed that under international extradition procedures, a formal request must first be made by the Government of Ghana through diplomatic channels before any legal challenge can arise in foreign courts.

According to him, such a request must clearly indicate the fugitive’s location and be directed to the appropriate authorities, including magistrates or federal district courts, before a warrant of arrest or surrender can be issued.

Afrifa-Mensah therefore called on the Attorney General to stop what he described as “public deception” and instead clearly inform Ghanaians of Ken Ofori-Atta’s whereabouts and the exact legal steps, if any, that have been taken to secure his extradition.

He added that until these details are made public, claims that the former Finance Minister has hired lawyers or is fighting extradition remain unsubstantiated.



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