US Immigration Detains Ghana’s Former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta

Ghana‘s former finance minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, has been detained in the United States (U.S) on Wednesday, January 7, over issues related to his immigration status.

Ofori-Atta’s lawyers announced his detention in the U.S via a statement released on Wednesday.

The lawyers disclosed that the former Ghanaian minister has a pending petition over the status of his stay in the U.S.

“The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as of yesterday, detained the former minister for finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, regarding the status of his current stay in the United States,” the statement read.

“His U.S legal team is in contact with ICE and expects the matter to be resolved expeditiously.”

He has been in the U.S for over a year for medical treatment.

An ICE online detainee locator indicated that Ofori-Atta is being held by the immigration authorities at the Caroline detention facility.

In February 2025, the former minister was declared wanted by Ghanaian authorities after failing to attend interviews on corruption allegations.

In November 2025, the Ghanaian government filed charges against Ofori-Atta and six jothers over allegations of corruption.

In December 2025, the Ghanaian government requested the extradition of Ofori-Atta from the US.

Ofori-Atta served as finance minister from 2017 to 2024 under former president Nana Akufo-Addo.