Asante Akyem North MP remains in Dutch custody ahead of November 18 extradition hearing

The Member of Parliament for Asante Akyem North, Ohene Kwame Frimpong, remains in custody in the Netherlands after two attempts to secure his release on bail were unsuccessful.

Mr Frimpong was arrested at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport on May 10, 2026, after arriving from Ghana, following an extradition request from the United States.

The request is linked to allegations of romance scams and money laundering.

Parliament subsequently confirmed his detention and engaged Ghana's diplomatic mission in The Hague. Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa also confirmed that consular assistance was being provided, including a visit to the MP while in detention.

Mr Frimpong's lawyers have argued that the warrant issued by a US magistrate court was intended for questioning and did not contain formal criminal charges.

Majority Chief Whip and South Dayi MP, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, said the MP's legal team had failed to secure his release through both an initial bail application and a subsequent appeal.

"The update is that, we have failed to secure bail for him in respect of the two applications that were brought before the court for the tribunal to sit. And so he's still in custody," Mr Dafeamekpor said.

Mr Dafeamekpor said the substantive extradition hearing is scheduled for November 18, 2026, barring any unforeseen developments.

"Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the extradition hearing, properly so-called, will take place on the 18th of this month, 18th November. And so we are still before the court," he said.

He also dismissed speculation that the MP had already been transferred to the United States, insisting that the extradition proceedings were still ongoing in the Netherlands.

"So he's not been taken to the US as has been alleged. No, we're still going through the records of the extradition process," he added.

The November 18 hearing will consider the extradition proceedings and whether the legal requirements for his transfer to the United States have been met.

Mr Frimpong remains in custody as the process continues. He has not been convicted of the offences alleged against him.