Pressure group Arise Ghana has announced plans to embark on an indefinite picketing exercise at the United States Embassy in Accra, beginning Monday, January 20, 2026, to demand the extradition of former Finance Minister Ken Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta to Ghana to face multiple corruption-related charges.
In a statement issued by the group, Arise Ghana said the protest will be held daily from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm at the precincts of the US Embassy. Organisers estimate that about 2,000 Ghanaians are expected to participate in the demonstrations, which they describe as a patriotic action aimed at pressing for accountability, justice, and the rule of law.
According to the group, the picketing exercise is intended to draw international attention to what it describes as delays in ensuring that Mr Ofori-Atta faces trial in Ghana. Arise Ghana insists that the former Finance Minister must be returned to the country to answer to charges levelled against him by Ghanaian prosecutors.
Ken Ofori-Atta has remained in the United States since December 2024 after travelling abroad for medical treatment. He is reported to have undergone treatment for prostate cancer, including a radical prostatectomy, at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, in June 2025. His continued stay in the US has, however, coincided with escalating legal proceedings back home.
In November 2025, the Office of the Special Prosecutor charged Mr Ofori-Atta in absentia with seventy-eight (78) counts of corruption and corruption-related offences. Prosecutors allege that his actions during his tenure as Finance Minister resulted in an estimated financial loss of approximately $128 million to the state.
Adding a new dimension to the matter, reports indicate that Mr Ofori-Atta has been held at the Caroline Detention Facility in Virginia since January 6, 2026. This followed concerns raised about his immigration status in the United States, although Ghanaian authorities have not officially confirmed the details surrounding his detention.
Beyond Mr Ofori-Atta, the case involves several other high-profile individuals. Ken Ofori-Atta and seven other accused persons are jointly facing the seventy-eight charges. Among them is Ernest Darko Akore, 67, a former Chief of Staff at the Ministry of Finance; Emmanuel Kofi Nti, 66, a former Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA); and Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, 64, also a former Commissioner-General of the GRA.
Other accused persons include Isaac Crentsil, 63, a former Commissioner of the Customs Division of the GRA; Kwadwo Damoah, 65, another former Commissioner of the Customs Division; and Evans Adusei, 62, identified as the Chief Executive Officer and principal decision-maker of Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML).
The company itself, previously known as Strategic Mobilisation Enhancement Limited, has also been listed as an accused entity in the ongoing case, highlighting the breadth of the alleged corruption network under investigation.
Arise Ghana says its protest is aimed at urging the United States authorities to cooperate with Ghanaian law enforcement agencies to ensure Mr Ofori-Atta’s extradition. The group maintains that allowing the legal process to run its course is essential to restoring public confidence in governance and fighting corruption.
The planned picket adds to growing public pressure surrounding the case, as civil society groups and concerned citizens continue to call for transparency, accountability, and swift justice. As events unfold, the protest is expected to draw significant public and media attention both locally and internationally.
