Extradite Ken Ofori-Atta … Solomon Owusu urges U.S.
The Communications Director of the United Party and Pan-African activist, Mr Solomon Owusu, has called on authorities in the United States to extradite former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, to Ghana to answer allegations of financial misconduct. He also insisted that former Chief Executive Officer of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Madam Sediam Tamakloe … The post Extradite Ken Ofori-Atta … Solomon Owusu urges U.S. appeared first on Ghanaian Times.
Black News 
The Communications Director of the United Party and Pan-African activist, Mr Solomon Owusu, has called on authorities in the United States to extradite former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, to Ghana to answer allegations of financial misconduct.
He also insisted that former Chief Executive Officer of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Madam Sediam Tamakloe Attionu, should be made to serve her 10-year prison sentence in Ghana without any political intervention or pardon.
Speaking on issues of corruption and accountability yesterday on TV3’s New Day Show, Mr Owusu said the conviction, extradition and sentencing of Ms Tamakloe has shown that public officials could be held responsible for the misuse of state funds regardless of their political background.
According to him, the law must be allowed to take its course, and no individual found guilty of wrongdoing should not be shielded because of political connections.
Mr Owusu argued that the United States should not become a safe haven for African public officials facing allegations of corruption.
He said if Ghanaian authorities believe there is enough evidence against Mr Ofori-Atta, then the necessary legal processes should be pursued to bring him back to Ghana to face justice.
“Just as Sedinam Tamakloe has been convicted and sentenced by a court of competent jurisdiction, anyone else accused of causing financial loss to the state must also be made to account for their actions,” he stated.
Mr Owusu claimed that while the amount involved in the MASLOC case was significant, allegations surrounding some financial transactions under the previous administration involved much larger sums and, therefore, deserved equal attention from investigators and law enforcement agencies.
He cited a number of issues that have generated public debate in recent years, including expenditures on the National Cathedral project, the ambulance procurement controversy, and alleged discrepancies in tax revenues collected through some commercial banks.
According to him, corruption should never be viewed as a political party issue but rather as the personal responsibility of individuals who misuse public resources.
He stressed that neither the constitutions of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the New Patriotic Party (NPP), nor the United Party support the stealing of state funds.
“No political party tells its members to steal public money. Anyone who engages in corruption does so as an individual and must face the law alone,” he underlined.
Mr Owusu further argued that money allegedly lost through corruption could have been invested in critical sectors of the economy, including energy, education, job creation and social welfare programmes.
He said some of the resources could have been used to purchase fuel for power generation, support businesses and create employment opportunities for young people.
According to him, the misuse of public funds had contributed to economic difficulties and slowed national development.
Motreover, he also suggested that the imprisonment of Ms Tamakloe had weakened attempts by some political actors to use her case as a campaign issue ahead of the 2028 general election.
Mr Owusu called on anti-corruption agencies, investigators and prosecutors to continue pursuing corruption-related cases without fear or favour.
He said public confidence in government institutions would grow only when the law is applied fairly and equally to all citizens, irrespective of their political affiliation or social status.
By ENOCH NTIAMOAH SIAW
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The post Extradite Ken Ofori-Atta … Solomon Owusu urges U.S. appeared first on Ghanaian Times.
