The US Division of Justice (DOJ) has formally declined to touch upon the detention of Asante Achim North MP Kwame Ohene Frimpong at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, at the same time as Ghana’s parliamentary majority intensifies its authorized and diplomatic operations geared toward stopping his extradition to the US.
In response to the e-mail obtained by pleasure information analysis Within the early morning hours of Friday, Could 15, 2026, Ms. Nicole Navas-Oxman, Senior Worldwide Regulation Enforcement Public Affairs Counsel and Spokesperson for the U.S. Division of Justice, acknowledged succinctly: “The U.S. Division of Justice has no remark.”
Her succinct reply: pleasure information analysis Addressing the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Nationwide Press Workplace on Wednesday, the workforce requested six particular questions, together with whether or not there are any unsealed indictments, prison prices, or arrest warrants in the USA within the title of Kwame Ohene Frimpong. Which U.S. legal professional’s workplace or jurisdiction is dealing with this matter? Was Schiphol’s arrest based mostly on a provisional arrest request from the US, or based mostly on an Interpol Pink Discover issued by the US? Will the FBI or the Justice Division search Mr. Frimpong’s extradition? and whether or not the investigation is expounded to a beforehand operated enterprise in Chicago, as has been extensively reported in Ghana.
In a response dated Thursday, Could 14, at 8:05 p.m. Ghana time, the FBI Nationwide Press Workplace didn’t deal with any of the six questions on the deserves of the case. As a substitute, it was left to the Division of Justice.
“Thanks for contacting us. I want to refer you to the Division of Justice’s Workplace of Worldwide Affairs. I’ve CC’d your spokesperson.” The FBI Nationwide Press Workplace writes: A “no remark” from the Justice Division arrived six hours later.
These two solutions depart unanswered crucial questions surrounding the case on file: whether or not a proper extradition request to the USA was filed in The Hague, the exact prices being deliberate, and the jurisdiction through which the underlying warrant was issued.
Majority Caucus Deploys Authorized and Diplomatic Assets
Whereas Washington stays silent, Ghana’s majority caucus stays silent. In a collection of public interventions over the previous 48 hours, the parliamentary management has indicated that it intends to throw the complete accountability of Ghana’s diplomatic and authorized equipment behind the beleaguered MPs.
South Dai’s Majority Chief and MP Rockson Nelson Dafairmekpol has emerged as the general public face of the caucus’ response. Showing on Pleasure FM’s Mid-Day Information on Wednesday, Dafaamekpol admitted that the detained MP known as him at round 5am on Sunday, Could 10, whereas he was touring on a KLM Royal Dutch Airways flight from Accra to the UK, shortly after he was detained at Schiphol Airport.
He instantly escalated the matter to Majority Chief Mahama Ayariga, who was in transit at London’s Heathrow Airport on the time. Somewhat than persevering with to his unique vacation spot, Ayariga rerouted to Amsterdam, the place he spent two to a few hours in consultations with Dutch officers and spoke straight with detained members of parliament.
“We have been working very laborious on this problem. We have a lawyer for him now… and he is engaged on the difficulty.” Dafa Amekpol advised the media. He disclosed that the caucus had employed a Ghanaian lawyer certified to apply in The Hague to signify Mr Frimpong earlier than Dutch prosecutors.
Diplomatic passport opens a second entrance
A probably decisive factor of the caucus’ protection technique emerged from the revelation that Mr Frimpong had been touring by airplane. diplomatic passport on the time of his arrest.
Mr Dafaamekpol confirmed that the Lawyer Normal is at present investigating the authorized and diplomatic implications of Mr Frimpong’s standing as a sitting member of parliament to journey by diplomatic means. The investigation is predicted to have a direct bearing on Ghana’s stance on any extradition request the USA might undergo the Netherlands.
Article 117 of the 1992 Structure offers that no civil or prison continuing from a courtroom or place outdoors Parliament could also be served on or carried out in reference to the Speaker, members, or clerks whereas en path to, attending, or getting back from parliamentary enterprise. The constitutional immunity, though not absolute, is predicted to characteristic prominently in any claims Mr Frimpong’s attorneys will undergo Dutch courts or to Ghana’s personal diplomatic representatives.
That includes audio system and worldwide companions
In accordance with the Majority Whip, Nationwide Meeting Speaker Alban Bagbin and the bulk caucus: “We’re actively in search of assist from worldwide companions.” That is to acquire full particulars of the warrants on which MPs are being held and to make sure consular and authorized entry.
Ghana’s diplomatic mission in The Hague, together with the Ministry of Overseas Affairs and Regional Integration, is coordinating coordination with the Dutch Minister Openvaal (Prosecution Service). Congress says a licensed copy of the arrest warrant has not but been filed.
“We want to urge all media to not report something that’s unconfirmed, as a result of even the rationale for his arrest, we don’t but have a licensed copy.” Dafaamekpol warned.
Pressed to check the broader features of extradition with the unresolved problem of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, the Majority Whip pointed to the next rules: reciprocity He cited worldwide precedent the place high-profile figures have efficiently resisted or considerably delayed extradition requests to jurisdictions, citing former Chilean head of state Augusto Pinochet and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange as examples.
The caucus’s de facto place is that any U.S. extradition request will first be completely litigated in Dutch courts, based mostly on the Fugitive Offenders Act 1960 (part 22 of the Act) and the constitutional defend given to sitting members, after which, if the matter reaches mainland Ghana, it is going to be totally litigated.
the person within the middle
Mr. Frimpong, popularly generally known as OK Frimponggained the Asante Akyem North seat as an unbiased candidate within the 2024 basic election, garnering 70.25 per cent of the legitimate votes, defeating NPP incumbent Andy Appiakubi in one of many largest parliamentary upsets within the Ashanti area. Though elected as an unbiased, he’s aligned with the NDC majority caucus within the Home of Representatives.
Frimpong, a media entrepreneur and proprietor of Salt Media GH, has constantly denied the allegations at present swirling round him. In a letter dated September 8, 2025, his lawyer, Mr. Elvis Adu Ameyo, acknowledged that there aren’t any authorized proceedings, civil or prison, pending in opposition to his shopper in any courtroom of competent jurisdiction inside or outdoors Ghana. His aide Kelly Mensah mentioned on October 27, 2025, that the congressman: “It’s not affiliated with any journey or visa regime and doesn’t authorize anybody to hold out such actions.”
