Ghana News
‘There Was No Need for a Red Notice’: Ofori-Atta’s Lawyer Challenges Ghana’s Extradition Push from the U.S.
Ghana’s request for the extradition of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta from the United States has taken a sharper legal turn.
The former minister’s lawyers are accusing authorities in Ghana of abusing international law enforcement mechanisms despite knowing his whereabouts all along.
At the heart of their argument is Ghana’s decision to secure an Interpol Red Notice against the 66-year-old former minister, who is facing 78 corruption-related charges linked largely to contracts awarded to Strategic Mobilization Ghana Limited (SML) during his time in office.
Speaking in a recent interview with theBBC, Ofori-Atta’s lawyer, Enayat Qasimi, argued that the Red Notice was unnecessary and unjustified.
“They knew all along where he was,” Qasimi said. “There was no purpose for issuing the Red Notice, but they went ahead and did it anyway.”
Defence: ‘Not a Fugitive, Not Evading Justice’
Ghanaian authorities declared Ofori-Atta a fugitive earlier this year after he failed to attend investigative interviews, paving the way for the Red Notice and the subsequent extradition request to the United States.
However, his legal team insists the former minister was never in hiding and had been in the U.S. for medical treatment, a fact they say was known to investigators.
According to Oasimi, the core issue is not whether Ofori-Atta is willing to account for his actions as finance minister, but whether due process has been respected.
“There’s absolutely no question about his commitment to answering for anything he did while in office,” he said. “The question is whether he is being given the rights guaranteed under Ghanaian law — and he has not been.”
The defence maintains that attempts to engage Ghanaian authorities were ignored, making the escalation to an Interpol notice both excessive and politically charged.
Prosecutors Stand by the Charges
Prosecutors have firmly rejected claims of political persecution, insisting the charges are grounded in evidence. They allege that more than $1 million was paid to SML without proof of performance and under contracts that were illegally awarded, resulting in significant losses to the state.
Investigators also argue that Ofori-Atta’s failure to cooperate with earlier stages of the probe left them with limited options, prompting international action.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), which is leading the case, declined to comment publicly on the matter, citing ongoing proceedings, according to a report by the BBC.
Extradition Decision Now with U.S. Courts
With Ghana’s extradition request now formally lodged, the matter has shifted to U.S. judicial authorities, who will assess whether the legal conditions for extradition have been met under international and bilateral agreements.
Legal observers note that the case raises broader questions about the use of Interpol Red Notices, due process protections, and the intersection of law and politics in high-profile corruption cases.
A renowned lawyer and policy analyst in Ghana, Kofi Bentil, had previously predicted Ghana’s Attorney-General would face an uphill task extraditing the embattled former minister to Ghana over its handling of the matter.
“It will be a small miracle to extradite Ken Ofori-Atta to Ghana,” he had said during discussions on Newsfile, a popular news analysis program.
Ghana, under John Mahama, is intensifying its anti-corruption drive after widespread allegations and accusations of corruption under the erstwhile Nana Akufo-Addo administration.
The Ofori-Atta case is, therefore, seen as a defining test, not only of accountability but also of how far the state can go in pursuing former senior officials on the global stage.
Ghana News
Ghana’s Nationwide Flood Clean-Up Kicks Off with Slow Start
ACCRA, Ghana – July 10, 2026 – A two-day nationwide clean-up exercise across seven flood-ravaged regions began Friday morning sluggishly.
Authorities have been urging residents, businesses, and institutions to ramp up participation as teams work to clear refuse, desilt choked drains, and restore public spaces following recent devastating floods.
The exercise, which commenced at 6:00 am local time, will run until 1:00 pm and resume on Saturday, July 11, during the same hours. While early-morning activity in several metropolitan areas was initially subdued, officials report that momentum is gradually building as local assemblies, waste management contractors, security services, and volunteer groups deploy to designated hotspots.
According to the government’s outlined schedule, the first day focuses on Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), public and private institutions, educational bodies, and waste management firms.
Saturday’s phase will pivot toward community-led efforts, tapping into residents, traditional authorities, and volunteer networks to drive localized clean-up at the grassroots level.

In a bid to maximize turnout, non-essential shops, markets, and commercial establishments within the seven affected regions have been ordered to shut their doors from 6:00 am to 1:00 pm on both days, with exemptions granted only to essential and emergency service providers.
The Ministry has called on transport operators, religious groups, and corporate entities to actively back the initiative, framing it as a critical step toward restoring safe, hygienic communities after the flooding crisis.
Greater Accra, the epicenter of the recent deluge, hosts the bulk of the operation, with authorities identifying 104 flood-prone and affected locations across 17 assemblies. Key areas include, Ga South (Tetegu, STC, Mallam East, New Weija), Ga Central (Awoshie, Kolegu, Israel, A-Land), Ga North (Pokuase Footbridge, Ofankor Barrier), and Ga East (Dome Market, Abokobi Drain). In the capital’s core, heavy machinery and manual crews are converging on major drainage arteries such as Alajo, Kokomlemle, Pig Farm, Mamobi, Nima Highway, the Kanda stretch to Kawukudi, and the 37 Hospital corridor. Coastal communities like Teshie-Nungua, Prampram, Sege, and Tema West’s industrial and residential zones are also actively participating.
Despite the tepid start, authorities remain optimistic that participation will surge as the morning progresses, setting the stage for an even more robust community-driven effort on Saturday.
The exercise represents the government’s most visible response to the recent flooding emergency, mobilizing public administration and local governance structures to tackle the immediate environmental and health hazards facing affected populations.
Ghana News
Top 10 Newspaper Front Page Headlines in Ghana Today: Friday, July 10, 2026
Top 10 news stories on Ghanaian newspaper front pages dated Friday, July 10, 2026.
1. GHC350m Contingency Fund Release Controversy
- Appears in: The New Publisher, The Ghanaian Publisher, The Custodian, The Chronicle
- Summary: The Attorney General is under fire for allegedly instructing the Bank of Ghana to release GHC 350 million from the frozen Contingency Fund for flood relief, despite a court order blocking it. The Minority in Parliament is demanding a probe and blasting the AG’s “lawless” approach.
2. Abu Trica Extradited to US Over $8m Romance Scam
- Appears in: Daily Guide, Ghanaian Times, The New Publisher
- Summary: Socialite Abu Trica has been extradited to the United States to face charges related to an alleged $8 million romance fraud scheme. The extradition happened despite a lack of a court order reversing the decision on the Black Volta project (mentioned in related coverage).
3. GJA Gives NDC Chairman Seven Days to Apologise Over Obaatanpa Radio Attack
- Appears in: Supreme, Daily Guide
- Summary: The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has given the Central Regional Chairman of the NDC a seven-day ultimatum to apologise for an attack on Obaatanpa Radio. The incident has sparked significant backlash.
4. Gomoa East NPP Rallies Behind Francis Mensah for Chairman
- Appears in: Supreme, The Ghanaian Publisher, The Custodian, The Metro Lens
- Summary: The Gomoa East Constituency of the NPP is rallying to elect Francis Mensah as the next Constituency Chairman. This grassroots movement is a major story across multiple papers.
5. Azumah Resources Denies Reversal of Black Volta Project Ownership
- Appears in: News Centa, The Chronicle, Daily Guide
- Summary: Azumah Resources Ghana Ltd has refuted false media reports claiming that an ICC ruling reversed the acquisition of the Black Volta project. They insist they still own the project, calling the reports “a big lie.”
6. Amankwaa Donates GHC 100,000 Seed Fund to Ayawaso West NPP
- Appears in: Supreme, News Centa
- Summary: Samuel Owusu Amankwaa has donated GHC 100,000 as a seed fund to the Ayawaso West Wuogon NPP constituency ahead of the election of new executives.
7. North Dayi Boils Over: “Joycelyn Must Go” Protests
- Appears in: Supreme
- Summary: Residents of North Dayi are up in arms, with protests erupting under the banner “Joycelyn Must Go.” The protesters are chanting “Enough is Enough” over local grievances.
8. NHIA Cracks Down on Illegal Charges in Eastern Region
- Appears in: The Metro Lens
- Summary: The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has launched a crackdown on illegal charges being imposed on patients in the Eastern Region. The NHIA Boss is leading the effort.
9. $208m Methamphetamine Scandal
- Appears in: The Ghanaian Publisher, The Custodian
- Summary: An MP is demanding the prosecution of officials involved in a $208 million methamphetamine scandal. There are also calls for the government to name officials implicated, with accusations of a cover-up.
10. National Sanitation Exercise and Flood Recovery Clean-Up
- Appears in: Supreme, The Punch, The New Publisher, News Centa
- Summary: A nationwide clean-up exercise is underway to aid flood recovery, with various political figures and MCEs rallying residents to participate. The exercise is scheduled for the weekend, with a focus on recovery from recent floods.
Ghana News
President Mahama Backs Tighter Checks on His Own Office in Upcoming Constitution Vote
President John Dramani Mahama has announced that Ghana’s Cabinet will meet on Friday, July 10, 2026, to finalise the government’s position paper on constitutional reform.
The process is expected to recommend significant curbs on executive power, including tighter checks on the presidency itself.
The reforms stem from a year-long nationwide consultation conducted by the eight-member Constitutional Review Committee (CRC), chaired by Professor Henry Kwasi Prempeh, which submitted its final report to the President in December 2025.
The committee’s report, titled “Transforming Ghana: From Electoral Democracy to Developmental Democracy,” addressed perennial governance challenges and recommended measures to strengthen institutional checks and balances.
Speaking at the Jubilee House on Tuesday during a farewell ceremony for Switzerland’s outgoing Ambassador to Ghana, Simone Giger, President Mahama confirmed that significant progress had been made.
“I am pleased to inform you that we have made significant progress. Cabinet is scheduled to meet on Friday to finalise the Government’s Position Paper on the Constitutional Review,” President Mahama said.
He explained that once Cabinet concludes its work, the Legal Counsel and the Attorney-General would take one or two weeks to consolidate the document. It would then be handed over, together with the CRC’s report, to the Constitutional Review Implementation Committee to begin implementation.
President Mahama described the 1992 Constitution as one of the finest Ghana has ever had, noting that it had provided the foundation for the Fourth Republic — the longest-serving republic in the country’s history.
“We therefore believe that any amendments to the Constitution should strengthen it further and ensure that it remains a living document capable of serving Ghana effectively for the next three decades and beyond,” he said.
The Constitutional Review Committee’s recommendations are understood to include proposals to separate the Executive from the Legislature — preventing Members of Parliament from being appointed as ministers — as well as measures to decentralise power and enhance accountability.
The committee also recommended amendments to Chapter 25 of the Constitution to introduce a third route for amending entrenched provisions.
Ambassador Giger, who has supported the constitutional reform process throughout her four-year tenure in Ghana, welcomed the progress.
“We have always rooted for Ghana because we genuinely believe that constitutional reform is central to the country’s future development,” she said, adding, “If Ghana succeeds in adopting a truly people’s constitution, one that decentralises power, strengthens checks and balances on the Executive, and incorporates the many important reforms currently under consideration, I believe the future of this country will be exceptionally bright.”
President Mahama also used the occasion to acknowledge Switzerland’s support for Ghana’s small and medium enterprises, particularly in agro-processing and agribusiness, an area he described as one of the missing links in the country’s agricultural value chain.
The constitutional review process, initiated in 2025, follows two previous attempts that failed to build sufficient consensus for significant change.
The government has pledged to establish the Constitutional Review Implementation Committee to oversee the roll-out of the reforms.
Once the position paper is finalised and consolidated, it will be made public and subjected to the necessary constitutional and parliamentary scrutiny.
-
Ghana News3 hours agoGhana’s Nationwide Flood Clean-Up Kicks Off with Slow Start
-
Homes & Real Estate2 days agoInside Forte Residences: The Rise of Modern Community Living in Ghana
-
Ghana News1 day agoTop 10 Newspaper Front Page Headlines Today: Thursday, July 9, 2026
-
Ghana News1 day ago75 Bank Staff Dismissed as Fraud Surges, Safo Kantanka Left Huge Portions of His Wealth to Maids, and Other Big Stories in Ghana Today
-
Homes & Real Estate3 hours agoGhana’s Rising Home Prices: Bubble or the Cost of a Growing Nation?
-
Ghana News1 day agoPresident Mahama Backs Tighter Checks on His Own Office in Upcoming Constitution Vote
-
Ghana News3 hours agoTop 10 Newspaper Front Page Headlines in Ghana Today: Friday, July 10, 2026
-
Fashion & Style1 day agoTiwa Savage Turns a London Sidewalk Into Africa’s Latest Fashion Stage
