A member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mike Oquaye Jnr has said that former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta can be tried in absentia.
He says that if there is strong evidence against Mr Ofori-Atta, the prosecution can go to court even in his absence.
He further explained that even if Mr Ofori-Atta arrives in Ghana, he would not help the prosecutors to prosecute him because his is to defend himself.
“He should be tried in absentia, the man says, his medical condition is not allowing him to come to Ghana.
“We can try Ofori-Atta in absentia, we don’t even need Ofori-Atta. His job is not to aid the prosecution in prosecuting him. If you have a case against him, do the do,” he said on the Key Points on TV3 Saturday, June 20.
Prior to his comments, Political Analyst, Senyo Hosi had criticised the US court for its pronouncements of the charges against Former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta in Ghana.
He says it is scandalous for a foreign court to make those pronouncements.
“I find it scandalous that a foreign court will be pontificating about our justice system. If we do that, will they be happy?” he said.
“Accountability is constitutional. Ghanaians deserve transparency and respect for the constitutional promise of accountability and probity. When you hold public office, you should subject yourself to probity and accountability,” he added.
Earlier, Lawyers of Ken Ofori-Atta said that a United States court has found that the criminal charges against Mr. Ofori-Atta are not credible.
Ken Ofori-Atta has secured a legal victory in the United States after an immigration court approved his application for lawful permanent residency, in a development that could complicate efforts by Ghana to secure his return to face multiple criminal charges.
The decision was delivered on Monday, June 15, during proceedings in which the court considered Mr. Ofori-Atta’s I-485 petition—the key application form in the process of acquiring permanent resident status in the United States.
In a statement, his lawyers said that “Ken Ofori-Atta’s Green Card I-485 petition has been granted by a US Immigration Court. The court heard evidence relating to actions taken by Ghana’s Office of the Special Prosecutor, including the OSP’s earlier decision to declare Mr. Ofori-Atta a fugitive from justice at a time when he was reportedly undergoing medical treatment in the United States and while his lawyers remained in communication with investigators in Ghana. The Court finds the criminal charges in Ghana not credible. The court’s decision was focused on whether Mr. Ofori-Atta met the legal requirements for adjustment of status.”
One of his lawyers, Frank Davies, also said that the court examined issues surrounding the criminal investigations and charges currently facing the former minister in Ghana, including the earlier declaration of Mr. Ofori-Atta as a fugitive from justice by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
The court heard that the fugitive 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 actively engaging with investigators in Ghana. A witness familiar with international policing and INTERPOL procedures also testified, reportedly questioning aspects of the process adopted by Ghanaian authorities in pursuing the case.
“Ken Ofori-Atta’s Green Card petition has been granted by the US Immigration Court,” confirmed Justice Kusi Minka-Premo.
Mr. Ofori-Atta faces multiple criminal allegations in Ghana linked to financial irregularities, including claims that a contract awarded to Strategic Mobilisation Limited resulted in a loss of over GH¢1.4 billion (approximately $91 million) to the state.
The OSP initiated steps for an INTERPOL Red Notice in June 2025 after he reportedly failed to respond to several invitations for questioning, though the notice was later deleted by INTERPOL.
