US ICE Confirms Detention of Former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta

The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has confirmed the detention of Ghana’s former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, at the Caroline Detention Facility in Virginia. The development has sparked widespread attention both in Ghana and abroad, given his prominent role in the country’s economic management between 2017 and 2023.

According to ICE records, Mr. Ofori-Atta was taken into custody on January 6, 2026 over issues relating to his immigration status. He is scheduled to appear before a U.S. court on January 20, 2026. His U.S. legal team is currently engaging ICE officials to prevent what could be his removal from the country.

A statement from his Ghanaian lawyers, Minkah-Premo, Osei-Bonsu, Bruce-Cathline and Partners (MPOBB), explained that Mr. Ofori-Atta has a pending petition for adjustment of status. This petition, they noted, is a common legal process under U.S. immigration law that allows foreigners to remain in the country legally beyond the validity of their visa.

Mr. Ofori-Atta’s detention adds to his mounting legal troubles. In Ghana, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has issued an arrest warrant for him and five others in connection with the Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML) contract saga, which allegedly caused a financial loss of more than GH¢1.4 billion to the state.

The accused persons — including former Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) officials Emmanuel Kofi Nti and Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, among others — face 78 counts ranging from causing financial loss to the state, using public office for profit, and procurement-related offences. All have pleaded not guilty.

Mr. Ofori-Atta’s lawyers insist that he is not evading justice, stressing that he traveled to the U.S. for urgent medical treatment before being detained.

It remains unclear what visa status Mr. Ofori-Atta was on prior to his detention, or what new status he seeks to adjust to. Under U.S. law, foreigners can apply for a "Change of Status" without leaving the country — for example, switching from a student visa to a work visa, or applying for permanent residency. However, such applications must be filed before the expiration of the current visa.

The case places Mr. Ofori-Atta at the center of a dual legal battle — one in Ghana over alleged corruption, and another in the U.S. over immigration compliance. The outcome of his January 20 hearing will determine whether he remains in the U.S. or faces deportation, potentially complicating Ghana’s efforts to prosecute him.