Executive Secretary of the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC), Duncan Amoah
The Executive Secretary of the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC), Duncan Amoah, has called on the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the family of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta to advise him to return to Ghana and submit to due legal processes, insisting that doing so would preserve his dignity rather than remaining outside the country and being perceived as a fugitive.
His comments follow Ofori-Atta’s release from detention by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement over immigration-related issues, as Ghana continues to pursue extradition proceedings to bring him back for prosecution over multiple charges.
Speaking on The Big Issue on Channel One TV on Saturday, April 11, Mr Amoah maintained that individuals accused of wrongdoing must not avoid accountability, but should instead confront the justice system to clear their names.
According to him, it is important for both the NPP and close relatives of the former minister to step in and encourage him to return home and face any legal scrutiny, regardless of the possible consequences.
“If his party, the NPP, his family, and his friends can be candid with him, they should tell him to come back. Even if there are consequences, including jail, it is better to clear your dignity than to stay outside the country and be seen as a fugitive running away from justice,” he said.
Mr Amoah added that Ofori-Atta’s refusal to return and face legal processes only worsens public perception and raises questions about accountability among public officials.
Ken Ofori-Atta, who served under former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, is currently facing a series of legal challenges in Ghana, including more than 70 criminal charges tied to alleged financial losses to the state.
The Government of Ghana has formally initiated extradition proceedings in the United States to secure his return for prosecution.
While he has since been released from the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, his legal and immigration issues remain unresolved, with the next steps hinging on determinations by U.S. judicial authorities.
