The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has distanced itself from reports suggesting that former Finance Minister Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta was granted permanent residency in the United States after an immigration court allegedly questioned the credibility of criminal charges against him in Ghana.
In a statement, the OSP said it is not involved in any immigration proceedings concerning Mr. Ofori-Atta in the United States. The office explained that its role is limited to pursuing extradition proceedings through the Attorney-General, acting as Ghana’s central authority.
According to the OSP, the extradition case is separate from any immigration matter and the extradition documents submitted by Ghana are not before the U.S. immigration court.
The Special Prosecutor further stressed that the validity of the criminal charges against Mr. Ofori-Atta can only be determined by courts in Ghana, which have the jurisdiction to decide his guilt or innocence.
The OSP also noted that despite reports of permanent residency status in the United States, Mr. Ofori-Atta remains a Ghanaian citizen and could still be extradited to Ghana should a U.S. extradition court rule in favour of such a request.
By: Bernard Mensah |Planbfmonline.com
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