A UK-based immigration lawyer, Anderson Danso, has provided clarity on the circumstances surrounding the recent bail granted to former Ghanaian finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta following his detention by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the United States.
According to Danso, the decision to grant bail was based primarily on the court’s assessment that Ofori-Atta does not pose a flight risk. He explained that in many advanced legal systems, bail is typically granted even in criminal matters, particularly when the individual is deemed unlikely to abscond.
“Where a person is not a flight risk, courts often prefer supervised release conditions instead of detention,” Danso noted, adding that such conditions may include electronic monitoring or regular reporting to authorities.
He emphasized that Ofori-Atta’s release from ICE custody is unrelated to any potential extradition proceedings involving the Government of Ghana. “The ICE detention and extradition are two completely separate legal processes,” he said, stressing that ICE’s mandate is limited to immigration enforcement and border protection, not handling extradition requests.
The UK based private legal practitioner also raised concerns about the apparent absence of formal extradition documentation from Ghana presented before the U.S. court. He expressed surprise that the presiding judge reportedly indicated no evidence of an official request had been submitted.
“If there were serious efforts to extradite him, the necessary legal paperwork should already be before the U.S. judicial system,” Danso argued.
He further cautioned that continued public pressure from Ghana without corresponding legal action could backfire. According to him, the court may interpret the situation as politically motivated, which could potentially strengthen any future asylum claim by Ofori-Atta.
Lawyer Danso concluded that proper legal channels—not public rhetoric—will be critical if Ghana intends to pursue extradition successfully.
Story By: Errah Salifu Razak(Intern, UNIMAC)
