A member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Kelvin Wayo Tetteh, has accused United States Immigration Judge David Gardey of being influenced by former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta following the judge’s decision questioning the strength of the corruption case against the former minister.
Speaking on Plan B FM’s Nkosuo Nsem with Kofi Sekyi, Mr. Wayo Tetteh alleged that the judge’s comments were driven by personal interest rather than an objective assessment of the facts. He claimed, without providing evidence, that the judge had benefited from Mr. Ofori-Atta and that his ruling was therefore not in Ghana’s interest.
Mr. Wayo Tetteh defended the case being pursued by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), insisting that the evidence gathered is substantial and provides a solid basis for seeking Mr. Ofori-Atta’s return to Ghana to face prosecution.
According to him, the OSP has assembled sufficient evidence to support the charges against the former Finance Minister, and the legal process should be allowed to proceed without external interference.
His comments follow a June 15, 2026 ruling by US Immigration Judge David Gardey, who approved Mr. Ofori-Atta’s permanent residency application after concluding that the OSP’s affidavit contained largely conclusory allegations and lacked credible or reliable evidence demonstrating criminal wrongdoing. The judge said he had reviewed the OSP’s case, including more than 70 criminal counts, but found the material presented did not persuasively establish that Mr. Ofori-Atta had engaged in criminal conduct or personally benefited from his office.
Background
Ken Ofori-Atta, who served as Ghana’s Finance Minister from 2017 to 2024, is under investigation by the Office of the Special Prosecutor over multiple corruption and procurement-related matters, including the National Cathedral project, Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) contract, procurement processes linked to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), and other financial transactions undertaken during his tenure.
The OSP has filed numerous criminal charges against the former minister and has been pursuing legal processes aimed at securing his return to Ghana to stand trial. Mr. Ofori-Atta has consistently denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that the allegations against him are unfounded. His legal team has challenged aspects of the OSP’s actions both in Ghana and abroad, with the US immigration ruling becoming the latest development in the high-profile case.
Note: The allegation by Kelvin Wayo Tetteh that the US judge was bribed or improperly influenced is an allegation only and has not been substantiated or supported by publicly available evidence. It should be reported as his claim rather than as fact.
By: Bernard Mensah |Planbfmonline.com
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