The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has taken former Ghanaian Finance Minister Ken Ofori‑Atta into custody over questions about his immigration status.
Gatekeepers News reports that the action, which occurred on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, was confirmed in a public notice signed by one of his lawyers, Justice Kusi‑Minkah Premo Esq.
It reads, “The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as of yesterday, detained the former Minister for Finance, Mr Ken Ofori‑Atta, regarding the status of his current stay in the United States.”
“His US legal team is engaging with ICE and expects the matter to be “resolved expeditiously.”
According to the notice, Ofori‑Atta has a pending petition for adjustment of status under US immigration law, which allows individuals to remain in the country beyond the original visa validity while their application is being reviewed. Lawyers noted that this process is common under US law and said he is fully cooperating with authorities.
ICE’s online detainee locator lists Ofori‑Atta as being held at the Caroline Detention Facility in Virginia, a centre operated by US immigration authorities.
The detention comes amid efforts by Ghanaian authorities to have him extradited over corruption‑related charges, including accusations linked to controversial Strategic Mobilisation Limited revenue assurance contracts, for which he faces numerous counts in his home country. The Government of Ghana formally transmitted an extradition request to US authorities in December 2025.
Ofori‑Atta served as Ghana’s Finance Minister from 2017 until 2024 and has been in the United States since early 2025, where he initially went for medical treatment. His lawyers maintain he is cooperating and expect the immigration matter to be resolved quickly.
