Hamza Suhuyini is a member of the NDC Communication Team
A member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Communication Team, Hamza Suhuyini, has refuted claims that former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta’s detention by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was in connection with Ghana’s extradition request.
He noted that the former minister’s arrest was solely an immigration issue and not related to the ongoing criminal allegations levelled against him.
Contributing to a discussion about the ongoing Ofori-Atta saga on Channel One TV's *Breakfast Daily* show on June 17, 2026, he said, “When he was picked up by ICE, they were quick to indicate that indeed this had nothing to do with the extradition request. Purely immigration issues. It was purely an immigration issue.”
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He further explained that Ofori-Atta was arrested for allegedly violating immigration law, noting that it is routine within the US legal system.
“He was said to have broken an immigration law. He was picked up by ICE, and that is the normal process for anybody familiar with the US legal system, especially when it comes to immigration. That's how it works,” he stated.
“So, his case was not peculiar in any way, form, or shape. Now, he had a pending application for the grant of permanent residency at the time that he was picked up,” he added.
He further explained that the former minister had a pending issue related to permanent residency with the immigration service and reiterated that his arrest had no connection with Ghana's extradition request.
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“So, he had a formidable defence. Look, I may have overstayed my visa, but I have overstayed my visa because of A, B, C, and D. And as I speak with you, I have a pending application before an immigration panel for a determination to be made as far as my current status is concerned. And that was it. It was not in any way related to Ghana's request for extradition. Interestingly, when you appear before the immigration court that makes a determination as to whether or not they would grant you permanent residency.
“According to Suhuyini, the immigration court dealing with Ofori-Atta's residency case had no authority to handle issues concerning extradition or criminal allegations.
“The extradition request is not a matter for consideration at that court because even that court lacks the jurisdiction to entertain the issue of extradition. It is an exclusive reserve of another court in the United States of America. Same with the criminal allegations against him. No court in the United States, as we speak today, has jurisdiction to determine the criminality or otherwise of the allegations against him, but that of Ghana,” he said.
Hamza Suhuyini criticised Justice Minka for allegedly creating the impression that the criminal charges were being handled by the immigration court.
He argued that such claims misinterpret legal processes and risk misleading the public about the difference between immigration proceedings and extradition issues.
“The criminal allegations and the extradition were not before the immigration court in the US. So, it will be disingenuous for a lawyer like Justice Minka to issue a statement, sign the statement, and seek to deceive and create the impression as though these matters were dealt with in the immigration trial. That is disingenuous,” Suhuyini said.
“And this is not a good example when it comes to how we interpret legal principles to the citizens of this country,” he added.
Watch video in the post below
“Ken Ofori-Atta's US immigration case and Ghana’s extradition request are unrelated legal processes.” — Hamza Suhuyini, Member, NDC Communications Team
— CITI FM 97.3 (@Citi973) June 17, 2026
He clarified that the US immigration proceedings do not deal with extradition or criminal charges from Ghana, stressing that… pic.twitter.com/TKqfCsd7GP
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