‘Too much theatre over Ofori-Atta’ - Pratt speaks to US residency report

Managing Editor of The Insight Newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr, has criticised the public discourse surrounding the prosecution of former finance minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, describing it as unnecessarily and overly theatrical.

Speaking on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana and sighted by GhanaWeb on June 18, 2026, Kwesi Pratt Jnr referenced recent media reports on Ofori-Atta’s legal and immigration status in the United States of America.

He argued that it had become a central topic to discussions about ongoing legal processes in Ghana.

He explained that clarifications from Ofori-Atta’s legal team indicated that a recent US court ruling was strictly related to immigration proceedings and had no connection to extradition matters in Ghana.

Pratt Jnr argued that, on the basis of this clarification, extradition processes could still proceed independently if pursued by Ghanaian authorities.

He further questioned the continued public focus on procedural delays.

“I fully agree there is too much theatre in this whole attempt to prosecute Ofori-Atta. It is unbelievable.”

“The court’s decision was fundamentally focused on whether Ofori-Atta met the statutory requirements for adjustment of status to permanent residency,” he said, adding that the ruling did not affect extradition considerations.

US court grants Ken Ofori-Atta permanent residency

He maintained that legal provisions under Article 19(3) of the 1992 Constitution allow for trials in absentia under specific conditions, including where an accused person refuses to appear in court after due notification.

“There is no reason why Ken Ofori-Atta cannot be prosecuted in his absence. There’s no reason whatsoever,” he stated.

Pratt also argued that an accused person is not obligated to assist the prosecution, stressing that the focus should remain on the evidence available rather than procedural debates.

He further described continued emphasis on extradition-related arguments as unnecessary if sufficient grounds exist for prosecution, insisting that the legal process should not be reduced to ‘rigmarole.’

He also used the platform to touch on broader constitutional issues, including free speech and its legal limits, referencing an opinion piece by journalist John Ofori-Ansah published in The Insight Newspaper.

While acknowledging the need for regulation of harmful speech, he cautioned against overly broad restrictions that could undermine democratic freedoms.

He also emphasised that threats of violence and reckless public statements fall outside protected speech and should be addressed by law enforcement irrespective of political affiliation.

MRA/VPO

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