Minority Leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, has asked the Majority in Parliament to use the law courts if they have any evidence of wrongdoing against former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.
Afenyo-Markin says the Government has succeeded in ousting the Chief Justice appointed by the previous administration and prosecuting the former Finance Minister won’t be a problem for them.
Responding to the Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, that the Minority Leader failed to produce the former Finance Minister as he promised at the chamber some time ago, Afenyo-Markin said the Majority Leader’s mention of Ofori-Atta at the chamber is not fair since he is not around to respond.
The comments follow Afenyo-Markin’s remarks that the Government has lost control and failed in implementing its flagship programmes such as the 24-Hour economy. This provoked the Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, who questioned Afenyo-Markin’s principles, having promised earlier to produce the former Finance Minister but failed to do so.
In his response, Afenyo-Markin said the Government can apply the law if Ofori-Atta is guilty of any wrongdoing.
“If you think that you have evidence of any wrongdoing against Ofori-Atta, the court is yours. Go ahead; who has stopped you? You have removed Torkornoo; isn’t it?
“My respected senior at the bar [Ayariga] knows that a man must be heard. You can’t bring Ken Ofori-Atta’s name here when he’s not in this Chamber to respond. Be fair,” he charged.
Meanwhile, a US Immigration court has granted permanent residency to Mr. Ofori-Atta, marking a significant victory for him amid an ongoing legal hurdle with Ghanaian authorities.
This follows an application by the former Minister to US authorities to grant him permanent residency while Ghana’s Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), had declared him a fugitive from justice.
The decision, delivered on Monday, June 16, 2026, during proceedings in which the court considered Ofori-Atta’s I-485 petition, is a key step in the process of acquiring permanent resident status in the United States.
Ofori-Atta’s lawyer, Frank Davies, says the court’s decision was highly influenced by the criminal investigations and charges currently facing the former Minister in Ghana.
He indicates that the judge reportedly expressed concerns about some of the circumstances linked to the actions of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), where he declared him a fugitive from justice.
During the hearing, attention was drawn to the OSP’s earlier declaration of Mr Ofori-Atta as a fugitive from justice.
According to Davies, the court reportedly heard that the declaration was made while the former minister was receiving medical treatment in the United States and at a time when his legal representatives were still engaging with investigators in Ghana.
Evidence was also presented by a witness familiar with international policing and Interpol procedures, who reportedly questioned aspects of the process adopted by the Ghanaian authorities in pursuing the matter.
Ofori-Atta remains the subject of multiple criminal charges in Ghana arising from decisions taken during his tenure as Finance Minister.
Although the ruling does not have any bearing on his criminal proceedings pending in Ghana, legal pundits believe the Attorney-General’s quest to secure his extradition from the US to face charges will be difficult.
The substantive criminal matters against the former minister remain under the jurisdiction of Ghana’s courts and are expected to proceed in accordance with Ghanaian law.
Ken Ofori-Atta is facing multiple allegations linked to financial irregularities, including claims that a contract awarded to Strategic Mobilisation Limited resulted in a loss of over GH¢1.4 billion to the state.
He is also under investigation by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), which in June 2025 initiated steps for an INTERPOL Red Notice after he reportedly failed to respond to several invitations for questioning. The notice was later deleted by INTERPOL.
Ofori-Atta remains a citizen of Ghana and amenable to be extradited – OSP
