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Former MP Ras Mubarak calls for suspension of US extradition requests over Ken Ofori-Atta's US residency
via GhanaWeb2 min read
Former Member of Parliament for Kumbungu, Ras Mubarak, has urged President John Dramani Mahama to suspend all current and future extradition requests from the United States. This appeal follows a US immigration court's decision on June 15, 2026, to grant former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta lawful permanent residency. Mubarak also advocated for halting defense cooperation with the US until Ofori-Atta is returned to Ghana to face legal proceedings. He emphasized a "quid pro quo" approach, stating that Ghana should leverage its position. Ofori-Atta faces multiple criminal allegations in Ghana, including claims of financial irregularities that allegedly caused over GH¢1.4 billion in losses to the state. His lawyer, Frank Davies, stated that the US court reviewed the criminal investigations and allegations against Ofori-Atta in Ghana, including a declaration by the Office of the Special Prosecutor that he was a fugitive. The court was informed that this declaration occurred while Ofori-Atta was receiving medical treatment in the US and his legal team was engaging with Ghanaian investigators. A witness with expertise in international policing reportedly questioned aspects of the process used by Ghanaian authorities in the case.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by GhanaWeb.
The Minority Caucus in Parliament has accused the government of attempting to create a non-existent US$85 million debt for the Afari Military Hospital project, labeling it a "criminal" effort to misuse public funds. Addressing the media, Kofi Amankwa-Manu, Deputy Ranking Member on Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee and former Deputy Defence Minister, refuted claims by Deputy Defence Minister Ernest Brogya Genfi that the contractor, Euroget De-Invest EDI, requires US$85 million to resume work. Amankwa-Manu stated that official records from the Ministry of Defence’s Project Implementation Unit show the 500-bed hospital was 92.5 percent complete by September 2024 and 98 percent complete by January 2025. He detailed that civil works were 97.5 percent complete, architectural works 87 percent, staff housing 77 percent, and roads and landscaping 80 percent and 77 percent respectively, as of September 2024. Amankwa-Manu asserted that there is no record at the Ministry of Finance or the Ministry of Defence to support the US$85 million demand. He explained that the original contract sum of US$180 million has been fully paid, along with an additional US$19.3 million from the Government of Ghana. A later claim of over US$6.5 million by the contractor was negotiated down to US$3 million, with US$2.5 million already paid, leaving an outstanding balance of US$500,000. Amankwa-Manu called the jump from US$500,000 to US$85 million "mathematically absurd" and "criminal." The Minority
Davis Ansah Opoku, Vice Chairperson of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee and Member of Parliament for Mpraeso, stated that former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta can be tried in absentia under Ghanaian law. Speaking at the 2026 Governance and Anti-Corruption Summit on June 16, 2026, Opoku emphasized that neither citizenship nor residency status exempts individuals from accountability in Ghana. He argued that if Ofori-Atta has questions to answer, he should present himself to state authorities, and that delaying prosecution until his physical return to Ghana is problematic, as legal processes can proceed without his presence, especially with advanced investigations. This statement follows a US immigration court's approval of Ofori-Atta's I-485 petition on June 15, 2026, a step towards permanent residency in the United States. His lawyer, Frank Davies, informed the court about criminal investigations and allegations in Ghana, including a declaration by the Office of the Special Prosecutor that Ofori-Atta was a fugitive while receiving medical treatment in the US. Ofori-Atta faces multiple criminal allegations in Ghana related to financial irregularities, including claims of over GH¢1.4 billion in losses to the state from a contract awarded to Strategic Mobilisation Limited.
The Ghana Health Service GHS has issued a public caution regarding an elevated risk of disease outbreaks as the rainy season begins. In a statement released on June 16, 2026, the GHS explained that early rains can wash fecal matter and other waste into water sources, increasing the likelihood of waterborne illnesses like cholera, typhoid, and dysentery. The GHS advises the public to maintain clean surroundings, eliminate stagnant water, clear bushes, and ensure proper food preparation and handling. Residents are also urged to thoroughly wash fruits and vegetables, practice regular handwashing, and seek early medical attention for illness symptoms. Additionally, the GHS noted that stagnant water creates breeding grounds for insect vectors, raising the threat of mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria, yellow fever, and dengue fever. Food vendors are specifically advised to adhere to hygiene standards, source ingredients from approved suppliers, separate raw and cooked foods, and ensure valid food handling certifications. The GHS also warned that heavy rains and subsequent flooding could displace reptiles like snakes, increasing human encounters, and recommended keeping environments clean, closing potential entry points, and elevating stored items. The Service reaffirmed its commitment to public health, emphasizing that community cooperation is vital in preventing seasonal outbreaks.