Venezuelan President Appears in U.S. Court After Arrest on Drug Charge

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NEW YORK — Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has appeared before a United States federal court following his recent arrest and extradition, according to reports from international media outlets. Maduro was transported under heavy security to a federal courthouse in New York for an initial court appearance. The development marks a rare and significant moment in international criminal proceedings involving a sitting head of state. Background to the Case U.S. prosecutors accuse Maduro of involvement in drug trafficking and related criminal conspiracies. The charges stem from indictments first announced several years ago, alleging that senior Venezuelan officials participated in large-scale cocaine trafficking operations targeting the United States and other international destinations. The case had remained inactive due to Maduro’s position in power and the lack of extradition until his reported arrest. Court Proceedings During the initial appearance, procedural matters wer...
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OSP Declares Former Finance Ministry Advisor Wanted in SML Corruption Probe

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Kumasi, Ghana – The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has escalated its investigation into alleged corruption surrounding the controversial Strategic Mobilization Limited (SML) contract, declaring Mr. Ernest Darko Akore, a former Chef de Cabinet (Technical Advisor) at the Ministry of Finance, as a wanted person.

In a public notice issued today, Wednesday, July 16, 2025, the OSP announced that an arrest warrant for the 67-year-old Akore was issued by the High Court's Criminal Division. He is being sought in connection with ongoing investigations into suspected corruption and corruption-related offenses tied to the Revenue Assurance Contract between the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and SML.

Mr. Akore, believed to hold dual Ghanaian-American nationality, with a history of possessing an American passport, is suspected by authorities to be in hiding in various countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, or South Africa. The OSP has urged the public to provide any credible information regarding his whereabouts through dedicated WhatsApp hotlines: 0554494499 and 0554484488.


The SML contract has been a subject of intense public scrutiny and accusations of corruption. Under the previous Akufo-Addo-Bawumia government, SML was engaged by the GRA to provide real-time monitoring and audit services to enhance tax compliance and revenue assurance, initially in the downstream petroleum sector. The scope of the contract was significantly expanded in 2023 to include upstream petroleum activities and the mining sector, drawing widespread criticism.

The government subsequently suspended the contract in 2024 following an audit by KPMG, which confirmed several irregularities. By the time of its suspension, an amount of GH¢1.06 billion had already been paid to SML, with projections indicating a total cost to the state of GH¢5.17 billion over five years if the contract had continued.

This development comes as the OSP intensifies its efforts in the SML probe. The Office previously declared former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta a wanted person in connection with the SML deal and other matters, issuing an Interpol red notice against him in June 2025. Furthermore, the OSP conducted raids on SML's offices in Osu and Tema in June, reportedly detaining three directors as part of the ongoing investigation.

The declaration of Ernest Darko Akore as a wanted person signifies a further step in the OSP's commitment to unraveling the full extent of alleged irregularities and bringing those responsible to justice in what has become one of Ghana's most high-profile corruption investigations.

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