Professor Lawrence Lowell, a lecturer at Valley View University, has criticised the legal team representing former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, accusing them of focusing more on financial gain than on defending their client.
Speaking to Kwesi Parker Wilson during a panel discussion on Oyerepa Breakfast Time, Professor Lowell said he was disappointed with how the lawyers have handled the case in both Ghana and the United States.
“My problem is Ken Ofori-Atta’s lawyers. From the little I know about law, they have disappointed him—both in Ghana and the US. It seems they are more interested in using his case to extract big money than to defend him, which is why they allowed him to default,” he said.
Professor Lowell further explained that the lawyers appear to have neglected key legal options available to Ofori-Atta.
“If you are from Ghana and have money, you can move to another country that cannot extradite you. When you leave the US and come back, you are granted another six months, so why not use that time wisely? Applying for permanent residency does not automatically give you the right to stay without extending your visa.
So why didn’t the lawyers use that clause to apply for an extension of his six-month stay? They could have secured another six months or even a year before any issue arose. I believe the lawyers used this as a way to extract money while failing to properly defend him,” he added.
Background:
Ken Ofori-Atta, who served as Ghana’s Finance Minister from 2017 to 2025, was recently detained by U.S. authorities over alleged immigration irregularities. His detention followed investigations into claims that he had overstayed his visa and failed to comply with U.S. immigration regulations. The former minister has maintained his innocence, but legal proceedings in both Ghana and the U.S. have drawn significant public attention.
