Audio By Carbonatix
The Member of Parliament for Suame and a member of the Minority’s legal team, John Darko, has urged all former government appointees to submit themselves to investigations whenever they are invited, insisting that public service must come with accountability.
The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency has published details of the detention of former Finance Minister Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta on its website, confirming that he is being held at the Caroline Detention Facility in Virginia.
He is scheduled to appear before a US court on Tuesday, January 20, 2026.
Lawyers for the former minister in the US are reportedly working to prevent his possible removal from the country after he was picked up by ICE over issues related to his immigration status.
In a public notice, his Ghanaian lawyers — Minkah-Premo, Osei-Bonsu, Bruce-Cathline and Partners (MPOBB) — explained that Mr Ofori-Atta had applied for an adjustment of his status, a process they say was expected to be resolved soon.
Speaking on Nhyria FM’s Kro Yi Mu Nsem morning show, hosted by Barima Kofi Dawson, Mr Darko said individuals who have served the nation should not evade scrutiny.
“I believe that whenever a person who has served the country is invited for investigation, he or she must comply,” he stated.
His comments come in the wake of the reported arrest of former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta in the United States. Mr Darko said the Minority caucus in Parliament is yet to take a formal position on the matter, as it continues to assess the circumstances surrounding the development.
According to him, the understanding within the caucus is that Mr Ofori-Atta was detained by officers of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) over issues related to his immigration status, particularly a pending adjustment of stay.
“As far as we know, it is about his stay-status adjustment. Any other commentary, including claims that this was orchestrated by the Attorney-General, remains speculative,” he noted.
Mr Darko also addressed the corruption-related cases filed against the former minister by the Attorney-General and the Ministry of Justice, stressing that legal action does not amount to a declaration of guilt.
He expressed confidence that Mr Ofori-Atta would eventually return to Ghana to respond to the allegations against him.
“I am convinced that, deep down, Ken Ofori-Atta knows he served Ghana well, so he will return and address the charges when the moment arrives,” he said.
He added that it would be more meaningful for the former finance minister to answer questions in Ghana.
“Ken Ofori-Atta must return to Ghana and face the charges, because it will be far more meaningful for him to account to Ghanaians for his tenure as finance minister,” Mr Darko stressed.
His remarks reflect a broader call for transparency and accountability among former public officials, particularly at a time when issues of corruption and governance remain at the forefront of national discourse.
Background
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