The co-convener of pressure group Arise Ghana, Marion Gifty Nyaaba, says the group will stage a protest at the United States Embassy in Accra on January 20 to demand the extradition of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta to Ghana to face corruption-related charges.
Speaking on The Big Bulletin on Asaase Radio on Monday (19 January), Nyaaba said the decision to picket follows what the group describes as prolonged delays in bringing the former minister back to Ghana, despite a formal extradition request by the Office of the Attorney-General.
According to her, the Office of the Special Prosecutor initially began investigations into the former finance minister over the Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML) deal, after which the Attorney-General took over the case and formally petitioned the United States government for his extradition.
She noted that Ofori-Atta is currently in detention in the United States and is expected to appear before a US court to determine whether he will be deported to Ghana.
Nyaaba explained that although the Attorney-General has complied with the legal requirements for extradition, Arise Ghana believes the process has taken far too long.
“We were informed by his lawyers that he was unable to return on medical grounds and requested three months. It has been over a year now, and he has still not returned,” she said.
She argued that the continued absence of the former finance minister suggests a deliberate attempt to evade accountability, describing him as a fugitive from Ghanaian justice.
According to Nyaaba, the planned protest is intended to amplify public demand for swift action, insisting that citizens have a constitutional right to express themselves when legal processes appear delayed.
“The law is made for the people, and the voice of the people is supreme,” she said, adding that picketing is a lawful means of civic engagement under Ghana’s Constitution.
Responding to concerns that protesting at the US Embassy could strain Ghana-US diplomatic relations, Ms. Nyaaba dismissed the claim, arguing that public protests are common even within the United States.
She assured that the demonstration would be peaceful and lawful, stressing that the Ghana Police Service has been duly notified and has engaged both the Attorney-General’s Department and US security officials in Ghana.
“Ghanaians are law-abiding people. The police are aware, the Attorney-General is aware, and discussions have been held with US officials,” she said.
Nyaaba disclosed that Arise Ghana expects about 2,000 protesters at the demonstration, but said all Ghanaians affected by financial sector decisions under the former finance minister’s tenure are welcome to participate.
She cited pensioners, customers impacted by the banking sector clean-up, and persons affected by energy-sector deals as groups with legitimate grievances.
The protest coincides with Ofori-Atta’s scheduled court appearance in the United States over immigration-related matters, which could determine whether he is returned to Ghana to face trial.
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