'I'd have been glad to hand over Abu Trica in exchange of Ofori-Atta' - Ayine

The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dr Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, has said he would be glad to hand over Frederick Kumi, widely known as Abu Trica, in exchange for the former Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, following his arrest in Ghana.

Abu Trica was indicted by United States authorities for allegedly operating a romance scam network that defrauded elderly Americans of more than $8 million in exchange for promises of romantic relationships and financial gain.

Speaking during the Government’s Accountability Series on Thursday, December 18, 2025, Dr Ayine explained that the principle of reciprocity governs such extraditions.

“I would have been glad to hand over Abu Trica, as I have done in other cases, and in return secure Ken Ofori-Atta. However, extradition must go through a court of competent jurisdiction. In our case, that is a district court. In the US, it will be a federal district court,” he said.

He noted that the extradition process is not automatic.

Government files extradition request for Ken Ofori-Atta

“The person subject to extradition will contest it in court. The US authorities cannot simply accept my request and take him. The case will proceed through formal court proceedings,” Dr Ayine explained.

The Attorney General also confirmed that the government of Ghana has completed the legal procedures to seek the extradition of Ofori-Atta and his alleged accomplice, Ernest Darko Akore, from the United States.

LIVESTREAMED: Attorney General briefs Ghanaians on Ofori-Atta's case, NSS scandal, others

In January 2025, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) named Ofori-Atta as a suspect in multiple corruption-related investigations, including alleged irregularities in contracts with Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML), expenditures on the National Cathedral project, and issues involving health and tax refund operations.

However, nearly 10 months after he was declared a “fugitive from justice” in February, Ofori-Atta remains at large in the United States and has not returned to Ghana voluntarily.

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