Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu says Ghana could explore diplomatic channels to seek the deportation of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta following his detention by United States immigration authorities, but cautions that the process would be complex.
This follows reports that the former Finance Minister was detained by United States immigration officials for allegedly overstaying his visa.
Mr Ofori-Atta was reportedly picked up by officers of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Tuesday, triggering a legal process that could potentially lead to his removal from the country.
However, his legal team has indicated that steps are already being taken to prevent any deportation or removal, suggesting that the matter is likely to be contested through the U.S. legal system.
Speaking in an interview on Joy FM’s Midday News on Thursday, January 8, Mr Kpebu was responding to questions on whether Ghana could take advantage of Mr Ofori-Atta’s current detention to secure his return for possible extradition proceedings.
According to him, one option available to the Ghanaian government is to negotiate with U.S. authorities for a “simple deportation” through diplomatic engagement rather than pursuing a full extradition process.
“We can try to negotiate, you know, through diplomatic channels, that they should do a simple deportation. But it won’t be that easy. Let’s not forget that Ofori-Atta has investments in the U.S., and the U.S. economy thrives on foreign investment.”
He stressed that the matter is far from straightforward, describing it as legally and politically complicated.
“It’s a very complex one. Yes, we can ask government to try to negotiate that he should be deported, but it’s far more complex than that,” he added.
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