Meet Ken Ofori-Atta’s ‘top-notch’ international lawyer
The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dr Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, revealed on December 18, 2025, that former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has engaged top-tier US lawyers to challenge his extradition to Ghana. Dr Ayine described the legal team as “very experienced,” sparking public curiosity about their expertise and background.
Research by GhanaWeb has highlighted one of the lawyers, Enayat Qasimi, whose extensive international experience spans government service, global finance, and cross-border legal disputes.
Qasimi is currently Partner and Co-Chair of the International Practice at Whiteford, Taylor & Preston in Washington, DC. His practice focuses on international business transactions, private equity, venture capital, and alternative dispute resolution. He advises a wide range of clients, including corporations, investment funds, institutional investors, multilateral lenders, law firms, and private individuals, particularly in high-risk and emerging markets across the Middle East, North Africa, and South and Central Asia.
Previously, Qasimi served as Senior Vice President and General Counsel for a Saudi-based investment banking firm in Riyadh, managing legal and regulatory issues for cross-border finance and investments. He has also held senior public-sector roles with the Government of Afghanistan, including Minister of Civil Aviation and Transport, Senior Foreign Affairs Adviser, and Senior Legal Adviser to the President during the enactment of Afghanistan’s Constitution. This experience places him among a select group of lawyers with direct involvement in state-building and constitutional reforms.
In addition, Qasimi has worked extensively with non-profit and international institutions on legislative reform, rule-of-law initiatives, and capacity-building projects in Afghanistan and Pakistan. He has been a Non-Resident Senior Associate with the Middle East Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, DC, and has been internationally recognized, including ranking by Chambers Global in General Business Law for Afghanistan (2017–2018). He is fluent in Pashto, Farsi, and Urdu and holds a J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law, an MBA from the University of Baltimore, and a Bachelor of Arts from Bard College.
In an interview with the BBC on December 24, 2025, Qasimi described the ongoing GRA–SML case against Ofori-Atta as “politically motivated,” while insisting that his client is not evading justice. He stated that Ofori-Atta is fully committed to complying with Ghanaian law and addressing questions regarding his tenure as Finance Minister. Qasimi also noted that Ghanaian authorities were aware of Ofori-Atta’s presence in the United States for treatment, making the issuance of a red notice unnecessary.
“He’s committed to fully complying with the laws of Ghana, and he’s fully committed to answering for anything that he did when he was Finance Minister. There’s absolutely no question about that. The question is, is he being given the rights that he’s guaranteed under Ghanaian law? He’s not. He’s never been,” Qasimi said.
With Qasimi’s vast global legal and governmental experience, the international dimension of Ofori-Atta’s defence against extradition is significantly strengthened…CONTINUE MORE READING>>>