Former Deputy Attorney General Alfred Tuah-Yeboah has stated that the extradition of former Chief Executive Officer of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Sedina Tamakloe Attionu, from the United States should not be interpreted as an indication that former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta will also be extradited to Ghana.
Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen show, Mr. Tuah-Yeboah explained that extradition requests are assessed on a case-by-case basis and depend on the specific facts and circumstances surrounding each matter.
“Extradition requests are not automatically granted by a nation. The rules have to be followed,” he said.
According to him, both the requesting and receiving countries carefully examine the legal merits of a case before deciding whether to approve an extradition request.
“It’s all based on the facts and circumstances surrounding the matter. In terms of the pending cases, if there is merit, I’m sure both countries will act on them. But if there are some flaws, either country can choose not to uphold the request,” he stated.
Mr. Tuah-Yeboah stressed that Madam Attionu’s return to Ghana should not create the impression that all persons facing extradition requests will necessarily be brought back to the country.
“The extradition process is handled on a case-by-case basis, so it doesn’t mean that if one person has been extradited, then everyone else will be,” he noted.
Addressing speculation surrounding Mr. Ofori-Atta, he cautioned against drawing conclusions from Madam Attionu’s case.
“It’s not automatic that Ofori-Atta will be extradited now,” he said.
His comments come amid public discussions following Madam Attionu’s return to Ghana after a lengthy extradition process from the United States.
Madam Attionu arrived in Accra on Tuesday aboard United Airlines flight UA996 from Washington Dulles International Airport and was immediately taken into custody by security personnel.
