Frank Davies, a member of the legal team of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, has questioned claims that his client was medically fit for detention at the time he was picked up by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
He insisted that no one ever said he was arrested from an intensive care unit or a hospital bed.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Midday News on Tuesday, January 13, Mr Davies described comments about Mr Ofori-Atta being “medically fit for detention” as unnecessary and misleading.
“Let it be told to the ambassador that at no particular point in time have we said that Ken Ofori-Atta was picked up by ICE from a medical facility or on a hospital bed. So this business of him being medically fit is unnecessary at this point to be banging these words about,” he said.
His comments follow remarks by Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, Victor Smith, who said US Immigration and Customs Enforcement had confirmed that Mr Ofori-Atta was medically fit to be held in a detention centre before he was detained.
Mr Smith told JoyNews’ PM Express on Monday that ICE arranged for medical personnel to assess the former finance minister shortly after his arrest and concluded he was fit for detention.
Questioning the public discourse around the matter, Mr Davies said, “I’m wondering why it is becoming increasingly difficult for us to understand this simple fact of life.
“Who said that he was in the ICU before he was picked up by ICE? He was picked up in his home or wherever they picked him up.”
Mr Davies stressed that while the former finance minister had indeed undergone surgery, the issue being raised relates to his recovery period and medical clearance, not the location of his arrest.
“He has gone for surgery, which we all know. All we are saying is that he is recuperating and that he is in consultation with his medical team, and they will have to give him the all-clear to come,” he added.
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