Latest news with #NationalCathedral
Business Insider
14-07-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
FBI clears Ghana's extradition request for most wanted former finance minister
The United States Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have reportedly expressed support for the Government of Ghana's request to extradite former Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, who has been declared wanted by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) and listed on INTERPOL's Red Notice database. The United States Department of Justice and FBI support Ghana's request to extradite former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta. Ofori-Atta has been declared wanted by Ghana's Office of the Special Prosecutor and listed on INTERPOL's Red Notice database. The U.S. authorities do not view the charges against Ofori-Atta as political persecution. According to a report by sources at the U.S. Embassy in Accra confirmed that both agencies have determined that the legal processes initiated against Ofori-Atta are valid and do not constitute political persecution. No grounds for witch-hunt claims, U.S. authorities reportedly say The report indicates that the U.S. Department of Justice and FBI found no basis to classify the extradition request as a witch-hunt. It was also noted that any foreign national in the U.S. who believes they are being unfairly targeted by their home government may seek protection under U.S. immigration law. Ken Ofori-Atta, believed to be currently residing in the United States, was re-declared wanted by the OSP on 12 February 2025, with an INTERPOL Red Notice subsequently issued against him. OSP investigating multiple high-profile cases involving Ofori-Atta The Office of the Special Prosecutor is probing Ofori-Atta in relation to several significant public sector contracts and financial decisions during his tenure. These include: 1. Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Ltd Contract - Alleged irregularities in contracts between Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited and the GRA for revenue assurance in key sectors. 2. ECG-BXC Contract Termination - Investigation into the cancellation of a distribution and loss reduction contract between ECG and Beijing Xiao Cheng Technology. 3. National Cathedral Project - Scrutiny over procurement practices, payments, and contractor selection for the controversial National Cathedral. 4. Ambulance Procurement - Probing the Ministry of Health's contract with Service Ghana Auto Group Limited for the acquisition and servicing of over 300 ambulances. 5. GRA Tax Refund Account - Investigation into the management and use of funds from the Ghana Revenue Authority's tax refund account. EOCO and NIB Also on the Case Ghana's Deputy Attorney General has confirmed that in addition to the OSP's investigations, Ken Ofori-Atta is also under scrutiny by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and the National Investigation Bureau (NIB) for related corruption and procurement infractions.
Business Insider
14-07-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
FBI clears Ghana's extradition request for Ghana's most wanted former Finance Minister
The United States Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have reportedly expressed support for the Government of Ghana's request to extradite former Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, who has been declared wanted by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) and listed on INTERPOL's Red Notice database. The United States Department of Justice and FBI support Ghana's request to extradite former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta. Ofori-Atta has been declared wanted by Ghana's Office of the Special Prosecutor and listed on INTERPOL's Red Notice database. The U.S. authorities do not view the charges against Ofori-Atta as political persecution. According to a report by sources at the U.S. Embassy in Accra confirmed that both agencies have determined that the legal processes initiated against Ofori-Atta are valid and do not constitute political persecution. No grounds for witch-hunt claims, U.S. authorities reportedly say The report indicates that the U.S. Department of Justice and FBI found no basis to classify the extradition request as a witch-hunt. It was also noted that any foreign national in the U.S. who believes they are being unfairly targeted by their home government may seek protection under U.S. immigration law. Ken Ofori-Atta, believed to be currently residing in the United States, was re-declared wanted by the OSP on 12 February 2025, with an INTERPOL Red Notice subsequently issued against him. OSP investigating multiple high-profile cases involving Ofori-Atta The Office of the Special Prosecutor is probing Ofori-Atta in relation to several significant public sector contracts and financial decisions during his tenure. These include: 1. Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Ltd Contract - Alleged irregularities in contracts between Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited and the GRA for revenue assurance in key sectors. 2. ECG-BXC Contract Termination - Investigation into the cancellation of a distribution and loss reduction contract between ECG and Beijing Xiao Cheng Technology. 3. National Cathedral Project - Scrutiny over procurement practices, payments, and contractor selection for the controversial National Cathedral. 4. Ambulance Procurement - Probing the Ministry of Health's contract with Service Ghana Auto Group Limited for the acquisition and servicing of over 300 ambulances. 5. GRA Tax Refund Account - Investigation into the management and use of funds from the Ghana Revenue Authority's tax refund account. EOCO and NIB Also on the Case Ghana's Deputy Attorney General has confirmed that in addition to the OSP's investigations, Ken Ofori-Atta is also under scrutiny by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and the National Investigation Bureau (NIB) for related corruption and procurement infractions.
Fox News
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
New book reveals what Obama and 'conqueror' Trump chatted about in viral moment during Carter's funeral
President Donald Trump and former President Barack Obama chatted about golf during a viral moment of bipartisanship during former President Jimmy Carter's funeral in January, just days before Trump's return to the Oval Office, a new book detailing the unprecedented 2024 election cycle reported. Trump and Obama were seen smiling and quietly chatting with one another in the pews of the Washington National Cathedral on Jan. 9, 2025, in a moment that spread like wildfire on social media as Americans sounded off with speculation over what the pair of presidents who had long traded political barbs were talking about. "2024: How Trump Retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America," which was released Tuesday, said that Trump arrived in Washington for Carter's funeral as a "conqueror" following the November 2024 election and sat next to Obama for the funeral service. "He'd attended Jimmy Carter's funeral, walking into Washington not as a scourge but as a conqueror," the book reported of Trump. "He could ignore the speech on character by the outgoing president, and the cold shoulder from the vice president he'd defeated." "Instead he sat next to Barack Obama and invited him to play golf, enticing him with descriptions of Trump's courses around the world," the book continued of the pair's conversation. "He was no longer an anomaly. He was being treated like an American president. He wanted to be remembered as a great one." Trump and Obama were seated near other high-profile former U.S. leaders, including former President George W. Bush, former Vice President Mike Pence, former President Bill Clinton, former first lady and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, as well as then-President Joe Biden and then-Vice President Kamala Harris. Social media commenters at the time remarked that footage and video clips of the pair were unexpected, and others joked that Obama may have voted for Trump despite years of the pair trading political barbs. "Trump and Obama sitting next to each other was not on the 2025 bingo card," one social media user posted to X in January. "Did Obama vote for Trump too?!" Clay Travis, founder of sports and politics commentary platform OutKick, joked at the time. "We need lip readers to see what Trump said to make Obama laugh," another person posted to X in January. Trump was asked about the viral moment ahead of his inauguration, remarking that he "didn't realize how friendly it looked." "I said, 'Boy, they look like two people that like each other.' And we probably do," Trump added at the time. "We have a little different philosophies, right? But we probably do. I don't know. We just got along. But I got along with just about everybody."
Business Insider
02-06-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
From finance minister to outlaw: Ghana's Ofori-Atta declared wanted again
Ken Ofori-Atta, Ghana's former Minister of Finance, has been branded a wanted person by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) after failing to appear for interrogation on Monday. Ken Ofori-Atta, former Minister of Finance for Ghana, is declared wanted by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP). The action follows his failure to attend interrogation about alleged mismanagement during his term. Ofori-Atta previously played a key role in Ghana's IMF negotiations during a financial crisis but faced criticism for fiscal policies. The reissued warrant is related to continuing investigations into potential wrongdoing during his tenure, namely, payments made for contentious projects. This recent action represents a substantial shift from events in February 2025, when the OSP officially removed Ofori-Atta from its wanted list. That decision came after his legal team submitted written assurances of his return to Ghana and cooperation with authorities, momentarily calming tensions between the ex-minister and anti-corruption investigators. However, the former finance chief's inability to attend a scheduled grilling this week has revived the controversy. According to the OSP, Ofori-Atta's new status as a "wanted individual and fugitive from justice" derives from his failure to provide a plausible schedule for his return or response to summons, despite being legally identified as a suspect in various corruption and procurement-related investigations. 'It is more than three hours past the scheduled time for Mr. Ofori-Atta's appearance,' Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng said. 'Consequently, the Office of the Special Prosecutor declares that Mr. Ofori-Atta is a wanted person and a fugitive from justice,' Agyebeng added. The special prosecutor also added that he initiated the procedure for issuing an Interpol red alert for Ofori-Atta's arrest and extradition to Ghana, as seen on Bloomberg. The basis for Ken Ofori-Atta's call for arrest The investigation revolves around claims of funding for Ghana's contentious National Cathedral project, the buying of ambulance replacement parts, and other dubious spending. The OSP suspects Ofori-Atta of misusing public funds and engaging in procedural irregularities during his tenure as finance minister. Ofori-Atta, Ghana's finance minister until his removal in mid-February 2024, had long faced public and legislative criticism. His handling of the economy amid a moment of unprecedented financial turmoil garnered increasing criticism from both the opposition and members of his own New Patriotic Party. In October 2022, over 80 NPP MPs sought his resignation, followed by similar requests from the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in February 2023. Despite this, President Nana Akufo-Addo supported him until early 2024, when he was eventually removed by Mohammed Amin Adam, then Minister of State at the Finance Ministry. During Ofori-Atta's term, Ghana entered negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to resolve a deteriorating financial crisis. In May 2023, the IMF authorized a $3 billion, three-year loan under its Extended Credit Facility program, offering immediate respite and a potential lifeline to the struggling economy.
Bloomberg
02-06-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Ghana Declares Ex-Finance Minister Ofori-Atta Wanted Again
Ghana's special prosecutor has declared former Minister of Finance Ken Ofori-Atta wanted again after he missed a deadline Monday to appear for questioning about payments for projects during his tenure. The minister under whose watch Ghana defaulted on its debt and agreed a $3 billion program with the International Monetary Fund to fix finances is being sought over funding for a controversial national cathedral project, procurement of ambulance spare parts and other issues.
