NEWS

U.S Justice Department is working on Ofori-Atta’s extradition request; I’m ‘extremely hopeful’ about this – Ayine

January 21, 2026
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Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dominic Akuritinga Ayine has said he is “extremely hopeful” that the extradition request for former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta will be granted for Ofori-Atta to return to Ghana.

According to him, he has been in touch with the Office of the United States Department of Justice Office and they are actively working on the extradition request.

He disclosed that he has received confidential briefings about the hearing of Ofori-Atta’s immigration status case in U.S.

“I monitored the hearing yesterday, and I have had reports from the United States regarding what has happened and what may happen, but these are confidential discussions,” he said in an interview with journalists on Wednesday, January 21, 2026 at the sidelines of an event in Accra.

“U.S Justice Department is working on the extradition request…I am extremely hopeful that [the extradition request will go through for Ken to return to Ghana],” he noted.

Ayine’s comments come after Ofori-Atta appeared before a U.S. court in Virginia on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, over issues related to the revocation of his US visa.

The hearing was solely on his application for bail to be released from the custody of the U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Immigration Judge David A. Gardey adjourned the proceedings after U.S. state attorneys opposed the bail application, arguing that Ghana has submitted an extradition request.

Judge Gardey declined to make an immediate ruling, citing a lack of documentary evidence, and directed the federal government to submit proof of any extradition request on or before February 19, 2026.

The Attorney-General explained that “now you would have to understand that what is happening now is in relation to immigration law violations. That is separate and distinct from the extradition request and so if it was put in before the Immigration Judge that there is an extradition request, he wants a formal filing before him so the Justice Department will have to do that before a decision is taken.”

Ofori-Atta was arrested in U.S and has been in ICE custody since January 6, 2026. His legal team is seeking a bail application to release hi from ICE custody.

Source: 3news.com