Father, come back — Mahama appeals to Ofori-Atta to return home

President John Dramani Mahama has called on former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta to return to Ghana voluntarily, saying the government is following the appropriate legal procedures to seek his extradition.

Addressing residents during the Reset Tour and Citizens’ Engagement in the Volta Region on Friday, July 17, 2026, Mahama recalled Ofori-Atta’s past remarks describing himself as a father who would never abandon his children.

He said the former Finance Minister, having served in one of the country’s most important public offices, should return and respond to the issues concerning him.

“You held the most sensitive position as finance minister, and at the point when your own members of parliament, 80 of them, signed an application that the president should remove you, you said something historic. You said you are like the father of children and that you can’t run away and leave your children.”

Making a direct appeal, Mahama added: “So if we Ghanaians are your children, we are calling you, we are begging you, father, come back, your children are calling you to come back.”

The President further argued that a person convinced of their innocence should not avoid returning home.

“If you are a man of principle and you believe you have done nothing wrong, I don’t see why you should flee your own country.”

Mahama emphasised that while the government wants Ofori-Atta to return, the extradition process must strictly comply with the law and uphold the rights of the individual involved.

“Extradition or return of fugitives from justice it’s a legal process, and so you need to respect the rights of the person at the same time.”

He noted that the Attorney General’s Department has already filed the necessary application and is providing additional documentation requested as part of the proceedings.

“The Attorney General’s Department has done its best; it filed the application. There are some additional documents that were asked for that are being filed and eventually it will all go before an American judge to make a decision.”