The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has issued a formal rebuttal to recent public statements by Deputy Attorney-General, Justice Srem Sai, regarding the extradition process for former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.
The OSP’s statement, released on October 20 via its official X platform, directly addresses claims that it has been unresponsive to requests from the Attorney-General’s Department. The Office clarified that the two institutions have, in fact, been actively engaged in a series of correspondences concerning the matter.
The OSP stated it felt compelled to provide factual clarity following the Deputy A-G’s televised remarks on GHOne TV, which suggested a lack of cooperation. The Office also highlighted the need to address serious security concerns stemming from the recent leak of sensitive official communication, which it says poses grave risks to both ongoing investigations and the safety of its personnel.
In its detailed response, the OSP outlined the structured, multi-stage nature of the extradition process. This procedure involves:
- Investigation and evidence compilation by the OSP.
- Issuance of an arrest warrant by a competent court.
- Preparation of extradition documentation by the OSP.
- Transmission of the package to the Attorney-General, acting as the Central Authority.
- Legal authentication and certification by the Attorney-General.
- Diplomatic transmission to the relevant foreign government.
- Response and determination by the foreign jurisdiction in line with treaty obligations.
The OSP emphasized that these processes are “ongoing effectively” and firmly rejected any characterization of a dispute with the Attorney-General’s Department.
“The OSP is confident that there is no institutional cooperation breakdown between the two authorities,” the statement read. It further explained that while the two offices are “distinct by design” to provide checks and balances, they remain “complementary arms of justice” under Ghana’s constitution, and differences in function should not be misconstrued as conflict.
Acknowledging the significant public interest in the case, the OSP concluded by committing to brief the public on the outcomes of its concluded investigations before the end of October 2025.