Ofori-Atta worsens his public reputation the more he stays out of Ghana

The Economic Advisor to the Vice President, Sharif Khalid, has stated that the prolonged absence of former Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, from Ghana will worsen his image in the court of public opinion.

Speaking on JoyNews on January 10, Khalid expressed sympathy for Ofori-Atta’s current situation, noting how he is currently in a detention facility despite his past position as an important dignitary.

“This is someone who’s been to IMF annual conferences, dined with the wife [of the President], entire mighty presidents, AfDB, Exim Bank conferences. So, you’re rubbing shoulders with the crème de la crème. And in just under one year, out of office, you found yourself in this. It’s not palatable for anyone,” he stated.

Ofori-Atta declines assistance from Ghana Embassy in US in the absence of his lawyer

Khalid argued that the longer the former minister remains outside the country, the more he aggravates his situation in the arena of public perception.

“The point is, the more he stays out, the more he aggravates his situation, not in the court of law, but in the court of public opinion,” he cautioned.

He explained that while public opinion holds no legal weight, “socially, it has a psychological element in the impact it has on your reputation.”

The economic advisor also raised questions about the initial explanation offered by Ofori-Atta’s lawyers regarding his reported detention by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

He challenged the claim that the detention was merely due to an expiring visa, contrasting it with the Attorney General’s confirmation that the visa had been revoked months earlier.

“This is something they need to answer… because I think it also has, you know, reputational collateral damage to an extent. Or they were not finished or at speed or abreast of the issue,” Khalid stated.

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ID/AE