Ghana’s former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, has been detained by US immigration authorities over issues linked to his immigration status, according to a statement released by his legal team.
Ofori-Atta, who is wanted in Ghana over multiple corruption-related allegations, left the country last year for medical treatment. His lawyers insist he has not fled justice and describe the accusations against him as politically motivated.
Confirming his detention on Wednesday, the legal team said Ofori-Atta was in the process of applying for a change in his immigration status that would allow him to remain in the United States beyond the validity period of his visa. They added that he is a law-abiding individual and expressed confidence that the situation would be resolved “expeditiously.
The BBC has contacted U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for comment, but no official response has been issued.
Ghanaian authorities had previously requested Ofori-Atta’s extradition. However, his lawyers are challenging the move, arguing that the case is driven by political considerations rather than evidence of wrongdoing.
The former minister faces several charges connected to his tenure in office, including conspiracy to commit procurement fraud and causing financial loss to the state.
In February last year, Ghanaian prosecutors declared him a fugitive, alleging he attempted to evade investigation. That designation was later withdrawn after his legal team stated he had no intention of avoiding accountability and planned to return to Ghana.
Ofori-Atta served as finance minister from January 2017 until February 2024 under the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration. The party lost power in the December 2024 elections, bringing President John Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) back to office on a pledge to intensify efforts to combat corruption.
Ghana maintains close diplomatic ties with the United States, including cooperation on immigration and repatriation matters. However, Accra recently criticised US actions in Venezuela, describing the seizure of President Nicolás Maduro as an “abduction” and an “invasion”.