Mohammed Ali 3 minutes read
A member of the legal team of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has said a United States immigration court is preparing to fix a new hearing date in mid-March 2026, earlier than previously reported.
Mr Ofori-Atta, who served under former President Nana Akufo-Addo, has been held at the Caroline Detention Facility in Bowling Green, Virginia, since January 6, 2026, after his arrest by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Washington DC.
He had travelled to the United States for medical treatment following the December 2024 general elections. Subsequently, Ghana’s Office of the Special Prosecutor charged him with corruption and financial misconduct in connection with the Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited revenue assurance contract.
In late February, the Office of the Special Prosecutor confirmed that Ghana’s extradition package had been formally transmitted to the US authorities, placing the matter before both the US Department of Justice and the immigration court overseeing his detention.
Speaking on JoyNews on Monday, March 2, 2026, Mr Frank Davies said the immigration judge handling the case is expected to set a hearing date within the month, with proceedings likely to commence as early as next week.
He said the February 19 hearing, which had been widely anticipated, did not take place. According to him, the US Department of Justice filed a document with the court on February 18, a day before the court’s deadline, but the filing merely confirmed receipt of an extradition request from the Government of Ghana without outlining its substance.
“What was contained in the request was not disclosed to the court,” he said. “So there was no hearing on the 19th. There was no hearing whatsoever.”
Mr Davies added that the details of the extradition request have yet to be placed before the judge, making it necessary for the court to schedule a new date for proceedings.
On February 24, Mr Sammy Darko, Director of Strategy, Research and Communications at the Office of the Special Prosecutor, wrote in a Facebook post that Mr Ofori-Atta had lost a bail appeal. Responding to the claim during the interview, Mr Davies described it as inaccurate, maintaining that there had been no hearing on February 19 and therefore no bail determination.
He further alleged that the post was intended to divert attention from a separate application by the Office of the Special Prosecutor to freeze assets in another matter involving Dr Sledge, also known as Nana Yaw Duodu, Chief Executive Officer of Goldridge Refinery Ltd, which he said was dismissed by the court.
“To deflect and take away the concentration on that matter, they decided to bring in Ken Ofori-Atta,” Mr Davies said.
Mr Davies stated that his client was in good health and that the legal team expects the immigration court to take up the matter in mid-March. He indicated that a further update would be provided after the next hearing.
Source: Graphic.com.gh
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