Former Ghanaian Finance Minister Ken Ofori‑Atta has been detained by United States immigration authorities over questions about his immigration status, his lawyers confirmed on Wednesday, setting off a fresh legal and diplomatic development involving one of West Africa’s most senior politicians.
Ofori‑Atta, 66, who served as Ghana’s finance minister from January 2017 until February 2024 under the administration of former President Nana Akufo‑Addo, has been held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the Caroline Detention Facility in Virginia.
In a statement released by his legal team, the former minister’s lawyers said the detention relates to the “status of his current stay in the United States” and emphasised that he has a pending petition for adjustment of status — a procedural mechanism under U.S. law that can permit someone to remain in the country while their application is processed.
“The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) … detained the former Minister for Finance, Mr. Ken Ofori‑Atta, regarding the status of his current stay in the United States,” the statement confirmed, adding that his U.S. legal team is in contact with officials and expects an expeditious resolution.
His lawyers further stressed that Ofori‑Atta is cooperating with U.S. immigration authorities and described him as a “law‑abiding person” whose case reflects a procedural issue rather than any criminal wrongdoing under U.S. law.
Ofori‑Atta has been overseas for medical reasons since early 2025, with reports indicating he initially left Ghana for treatment, including surgery in the United States.
The detention comes amid broader legal challenges awaiting Ofori‑Atta in Ghana, where he is wanted over multiple alleged corruption offences. In November 2025, Ghana’s Office of the Special Prosecutor filed 78 corruption‑related charges against him and others, linked to contracts awarded to Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited involving government procurement.
Earlier developments in Ghana included a brief period in February 2025 when Ofori‑Atta was declared a fugitive for failing to attend scheduled interviews with investigators. Although his lawyers later provided assurances about his return date, the matter continued to unfold, and an Interpol Red Notice was issued when he did not return as expected.
Legal analysts in Ghana have pointed out that the former minister’s detention by ICE is separate from Ghana’s extradition efforts, clarifying that he was detained for overstaying his visa or having immigration status irregularities, not directly on the basis of the extradition request.
Private legal practitioner Oliver Barker‑Vormawor, an anti‑corruption campaigner, emphasised that the detention relates to U.S. immigration law rather than extradition treaties, noting that Ofori‑Atta could be liable for deportation if his immigration status isn’t satisfactorily regularised.
In response to the detention, some commentators said the incident highlights broader questions about legal and diplomatic cooperation between Ghana and the United States, especially given that both nations have previously collaborated on repatriating West African nationals under immigration agreements.
Despite the legal challenges at home, Ofori‑Atta’s legal representatives have reiterated that he is contesting political characterisations of the corruption allegations and maintains his willingness to answer to Ghanaian authorities. His lawyers have described claims that the charges are politically motivated as a key part of their defence strategy.
Political observers in Ghana noted that the detention of such a high‑profile figure on immigration grounds could have implications for the ruling National Democratic Congress administration under President John Mahama, who came to power pledging anti‑corruption reforms after the New Patriotic Party lost the December 2024 elections.
The charges against Ofori‑Atta, which include alleged procurement fraud and causing financial loss to the state, were part of a broader anti‑corruption campaign; prosecutors in Ghana had in February 2025 initially declared him a fugitive when he did not appear for questioning, although that status was briefly rescinded before the issuance of a Red Notice.