Ofori-Atta has worsened his case, I feel sorry for him - Kwesi Pratt

The Managing Editor of the Insight Newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr, has said he feels sorry for the embattled former Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta following his detention in the United States in January 2026, amid Ghana’s formal extradition request relating to corruption and procurement charges filed by the Office of the Special Prosecutor.

Speaking on Metro TV's Good Morning Ghana on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, he argued that his reported prostate issues should not prevent him from facing justice.

The veteran journalist said prostate conditions are common, manageable, and do not automatically stop individuals from performing demanding duties or standing trial.

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"I feel sorry for him, it has got to this. I really feel sorry, Why can't he come and defend himself against the allegations...Now from all practical purposes, I think that he has worsened his case.

"Today, there are so many leaders of the last government who have been accused of wrongdoing who have been granted bail they sit in their houses and they go about their normal duties pending investigation and prosecution.

“What he has is prostate [issues]. I don’t know the state of it, but everywhere you go in the world, not just in Ghana, many people have prostate problems and they work. They stand trial, they live in prison, they live outside prison", he remarked.

Pratt continued, "Why has the story changed now? Is he no longer willing to risk his health to save the interests of Ghana that he loves so much? Unless there is something the public has not been told, health should not stop him from facing justice".

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US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested him on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, in Washington, DC and he is now awaiting a hearing on January 20 before an immigration judge.

Ofori-Atta’s legal team has described the detention as an “ambush-style” operation.

In 2025, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) summoned Ofori-Atta for questioning.

He traveled to the US on January 2, 2025, for medical treatment at the Mayo Clinic.

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After missing multiple appearances, the OSP declared him wanted in February 2025, and INTERPOL issued a Red Notice in June 2025 for “Using Public Office for Profit.”

Ofori-Atta remains in US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody while legal proceedings assessing his immigration status and extradition request continue.

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