Former Ghanaian Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has been detained by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and is facing legal proceedings in US courts regarding his immigration status. His arrest, which occurred about a fortnight ago, stems from allegations that he is illegally present in the country. US authorities are also seeking his extradition to Ghana, where two state institutions, the Office of the Special Prosecutor and the Attorney General’s office, are pursuing his prosecution for alleged malfeasance.

A recent hearing concerning Mr. Ofori-Atta’s case was held on January 20, 2026, at the Annandale Immigration Court before Immigration Judge David Gardey. During the proceedings, which included a bond redetermination hearing and a master calendar hearing, one of Mr. Ofori-Atta’s lawyers, Christopher Chaisson of Whiteford Taylor & Preston, requested that the hearing be closed to the public. Co-counsel Kwao Amagashi also made an appearance on behalf of the respondent. Mr. Chaisson indicated that sensitive issues would be raised, particularly during the master calendar hearing, prompting the judge to grant the request to close both hearings to the public under United States immigration law. Mr. Ofori-Atta himself appeared via Webex from the Caroline Detention Facility, where he is currently detained.

During the bond application hearing, Ghanaian government representatives objected to Mr. Ofori-Atta’s release, citing a pending extradition process. However, Judge Gardey declined to make an immediate determination on the extradition claim. He emphasized that the court could not act on assertions without proof and directed the federal government to file any documentary evidence of an extradition request on or before February 19, 2026.

Following the hearing, Mr. Ofori-Atta was remanded into ICE custody pending further proceedings on his bail application. The case has been adjourned to Thursday, April 27, 2026, at 1 PM, when the tribunal is expected to hear both the bail application and any documents the government may submit. Until then, he will remain detained at the Caroline Detention Facility in Bowling Green, Virginia. His detention was initially announced on January 7 by his Ghanaian legal representatives, Minkah-Premo, Osei-Bonsu, Bruce-Cathline & Partners (MPOBB), stating he was taken into custody on January 6, 2026, over his stay in the US.

According to his legal team, Mr. Ofori-Atta has a pending petition for adjustment of status, a legal process that allows individuals to remain in the US beyond the validity of their visa. His lawyers assert that he is a law-abiding person fully cooperating with ICE. This detention comes after Mr. Ofori-Atta had been in the United States since January 2025, where he sought treatment for prostate cancer. He reportedly underwent a radical prostatectomy in June 2025 and is also managing post-COVID multi-system inflammatory response syndrome. He served as Ghana’s Finance Minister from 2017 to 2023, and in November 2025, the Office of the Special Prosecutor in Ghana charged him and others with corruption and corruption-related offenses, a case currently at the management conference stage.

Adding to the public debate, George Ayisi, Communications Director of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), cautioned against assuming Mr. Ofori-Atta will automatically be returned to Ghana once US deportation proceedings conclude. Mr. Ayisi stressed the critical distinction between deportation and extradition, explaining that the US court is currently dealing with deportation matters, which differ significantly from extradition processes that can take years. He also highlighted that Mr. Ofori-Atta holds multiple valid visas, providing him with legal options to travel to other countries if his US status is not renewed, as deportation does not automatically entail a return to one’s home country.

While personally preferring that Mr. Ofori-Atta return to Ghana voluntarily to account for his public service, Mr. Ayisi acknowledged concerns about the former minister’s safety. He cited fears of potential “mishandling” by state security agencies, referencing past “Rambo-style arrests.” Mr. Ayisi maintained that Mr. Ofori-Atta is not evading justice but is looking for safety and protection under Ghanaian law. He also dismissed claims regarding Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML) as necessarily unlawful, noting that government communicators were briefed on the processes. The complex interplay of his immigration status, pending extradition claims, and legal challenges in Ghana continues to draw national attention.