Former Ghanaian Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, who served from 2017 to 2024 under former President Nana Akufo-Addo and oversaw major tax reforms as well as negotiations with the International Monetary Fund, is currently in the custody of United States immigration authorities, according to his lawyers.
Ofori-Atta, 66, has been in the United States since January last year for medical treatment. During that time, he reportedly underwent surgery for prostate cancer and remained in the country to recover. His legal team said he had applied to extend his stay because of his health condition.
However, on Tuesday, officials from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) took him into custody over concerns about the legality of his stay. His lawyers emphasized that the issue is administrative, not criminal, and involves only immigration matters.
In a statement, they said Ofori-Atta’s US-based legal team is actively working with authorities and expects the situation to be resolved quickly. They also confirmed that he is fully cooperating as the review continues. ICE records show that he is currently being held at a detention facility in Virginia.
Back in Ghana, Ofori-Atta has been under investigation for alleged corruption. He was declared wanted in February last year and formally charged in November, making his extended absence from the country a major point of discussion in political circles.
This latest development has once again drawn attention to his prolonged stay abroad, particularly as legal proceedings continue in Ghana. It remains unclear how the immigration issue in the US will affect the case awaiting him back home.
