President John Dramani Mahama has called on former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta to return to Ghana as the government takes steps to secure his extradition through legal channels.
Speaking during the Reset Tour and Citizens’ Engagement in the Volta Region on Friday, July 17, 2026, President Mahama urged Ofori-Atta to come back voluntarily and address the issues surrounding him.
He said the matter is being handled through the proper legal process.
The President referred to comments Ofori-Atta made while serving as Finance Minister when some New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament called for his removal from office.
“You held the most sensitive position as finance minister and at the point when your own members of parliament, 80 of them signed an application that the president should remove you, you said something historic, you said you are like the father of children and that you can’t run away and leave your children,” President Mahama said.
He added, “So if we Ghanaians are your children, we are calling you, we are begging you, father come back, your children are calling you to come back.”
President Mahama questioned why a public official who believes he has done nothing wrong would choose not to return home.
“If you are a man of principle and you believe you have done nothing wrong, I don’t see why you should flee your own country,” he stated.
However, he stressed that any extradition process must follow international legal procedures and protect the rights of the person involved.
“Extradition or return of fugitives from justice is a legal process and so you need to respect the rights of the person at the same time,” he explained.
According to President Mahama, the Attorney General’s Department has already started the process by submitting the necessary application and responding to requests for additional documents.
“The Attorney General’s Department has done its best, it filed the application, there are some additional documents that were asked for that it is filing and eventually it will all go before an American judge to make a decision,” he said.
The comments come as the government continues efforts to secure Ofori-Atta’s return through legal means in the United States, where a court will make the final decision on any extradition request.
“We are begging you, Father, come back” — Mahama to Ken Ofori-Atta#ChannelOneNews #PresidentMahama #KenOforiAtta #GhanaNews pic.twitter.com/4wti2WnLYM
— CITI FM 97.3 (@Citi973) July 17, 2026
