US Judicial Review of Ofori-Atta Could Be Hindered by Alleged Political Motive
Professor Kwadwo Appiagyei‑Atua, a specialist in international law and human rights at the University of Ghana’s School of Law, has suggested that the United States judicial system could encounter difficulties if former Finance Minister Ken Ofori‑Atta asserts that the effort to have him sent from the U.S. is driven by political agendas, noting that while American courts will focus on whether the statutory conditions for handing someone over to another country have been met, claims of politically driven persecution often complicate such proceedings, especially in cases involving senior political figures; he noted in a JoyNews interview that it is conceivable Ofori‑Atta might argue that the petition is tainted by political bias, a tactic not unusual in international surrender requests, and that judges in the U.S. will look at both whether the paperwork and procedures are in order and whether any basis exists to think the application is influenced by politics.
