Ofori-Atta can be tried in absentia - Mpraeso MP

The Vice Chairperson of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and Member of Parliament for Mpraeso, Davis Ansah Opoku, has said that the former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta can be tried in absentia, insisting that neither citizenship nor residency status shields individuals from accountability under Ghanaian law.

Speaking on the sidelines of the 2026 Governance and Anti-Corruption Summit, on June 16, 2026, he insisted that nationality, residency status or immigration privileges do not exempt any individual from prosecution under Ghanaian law.

“Even a foreigner, somebody who is not even of a Ghanaian descent, when he commits a crime in our land, the person is punishable by Ghanaian laws. And so, the fact that somebody has gone for American citizenship or has gone for a green card doesn’t mean that we cannot punish the person,” he stated.

The Member of Parliament for Mpraeso argued that if Ofori-Atta has questions to answer, he should willingly submit himself to the appropriate state institutions.

“If Ken Ofori-Atta has questions to answer, I think that he needs to avail himself to the authorities of the state and answer them,” he added.

The Mpraeso MP questioned what he described as a problematic approach of delaying prosecution until the former minister physically returns to Ghana, insisting that the justice process should not be stalled.

“So, the bit about waiting for Ken Ofori-Atta to come before he is prosecuted, I find it a bit problematic because we can try him in absentia. Even in his absence, something can be done,” he said.

Ghana's ex-finance minister granted US permanent residency

According to him, Ghanaian authorities should be able to proceed with legal processes even without the physical presence of an accused person, especially where investigations are already advanced.

A US immigration court on Monday, June 15, 2026, approved Ofori-Atta's I-485 petition, a key step in obtaining lawful permanent resident status in the United States.

According to his lawyer, Frank Davies, the court examined issues surrounding the criminal investigations and allegations leveled at the former minister in Ghana, including the earlier declaration by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) that he was a fugitive from justice.

The court was told that the fugitive declaration was made while Ofori-Atta was receiving medical treatment in the United States and while his legal team was still engaging with investigators in Ghana.

A witness with expertise in international policing and INTERPOL procedures also reportedly questioned aspects of the process used by Ghanaian authorities in pursuing the case.

Ofori-Atta faces multiple criminal allegations in Ghana linked to financial irregularities, including claims that a contract awarded to Strategic Mobilisation Limited resulted in losses of more than GH¢1.4 billion to the state.

Watch the video below:

Davis Ansah Opoku, Vice Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee, expresses concern over former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta’s failure to avail himself for questioning in ongoing investigations, joining calls for him to be tried in absentia.

Speaking at the 2026… pic.twitter.com/55GVZvVQSe

— ChannelOne TV (@Channel1TVGHA) June 16, 2026