Former Finance Minister Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta is currently facing legal challenges both internationally and domestically, sparking a broader conversation about public accountability for former government appointees. John Darko, the Member of Parliament for Suame and a member of the Minority’s legal team, has publicly urged all former government appointees to cooperate with investigations, emphasizing that public service necessitates accountability.

Mr. Ofori-Atta is being held at the Caroline Detention Facility in Virginia by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency. His detention is reportedly due to issues related to his immigration status, specifically a pending adjustment of stay. He is scheduled to appear before a US court on Tuesday, January 20, 2026. His legal team in the US is actively working to prevent his potential removal from the country, while his Ghanaian lawyers, Minkah-Premo, Osei-Bonsu, Bruce-Cathline and Partners (MPOBB), have stated that an adjustment of status application is expected to be resolved soon.

Speaking on Nhyria FM, John Darko reiterated his belief that individuals who have served the nation should not evade scrutiny and must comply with investigation invitations. He clarified that the Minority caucus in Parliament is still assessing the situation, with their understanding being that the detention pertains to immigration status. Darko dismissed speculation that the Attorney-General orchestrated the US detention and expressed confidence that Mr. Ofori-Atta, believing he served Ghana well, would eventually return to Ghana to address the 78 corruption-related allegations against him, arguing that accounting to Ghanaians would be more meaningful.

Adding another layer to the discourse, legal practitioner Amanda Clinton, Head of Clinton Consultancy, has characterized Mr. Ofori-Atta’s international legal troubles as a form of "quiet retribution." She posits that his detention by ICE on January 6, 2026, and the subsequent corruption charges at home are not accidental but rather consequences of decisions made during his seven-year tenure, particularly referencing the controversial 2018 banking sector cleanup.

Between 2017 and 2019, under Mr. Ofori-Atta’s leadership at the Ministry of Finance, the Bank of Ghana revoked the licenses of nine indigenous banks and hundreds of other financial institutions, leading to the establishment of the Consolidated Bank Ghana (CBG). While presented by the government as a necessary measure to protect deposits of 4.5 million Ghanaians, Ms. Clinton argues that the significant human and institutional cost of this exercise created deep-seated grievances that are now surfacing as a form of karmic justice.

Ms. Clinton highlighted the "dispassionate" nature of the 2018 cleanup, drawing a historical parallel to the administration of the late President John Evans Atta Mills, who, despite having leverage during a period of instability, chose not to shut down Databank, an investment firm co-founded by Ofori-Atta. She suggested that the ongoing pressure on Ofori-Atta, including 78 counts of corruption related to the SML revenue scandal and the National Cathedral, may be fueled by those seeking "vindication." Furthermore, Attorney General Dr. Dominic Ayine confirmed that Ofori-Atta’s U.S. visa was revoked in mid-2025, contrary to earlier claims of simple expiration, a detail that further intensifies the narrative of accountability.

Amidst these developments, a separate controversy has emerged regarding alleged offshore financial dealings. Frank Davies, a member of Mr. Ofori-Atta’s legal team, has sharply criticized Attorney-General Dr. Dominic Ayine for publicly discussing an ongoing offshore investigation, which Mr. Davies insists remains inconclusive. He condemned the Attorney-General’s actions as inappropriate and damaging to due process, arguing that such public disclosures create an impression of guilt without a judicial determination.

Mr. Davies emphasized that the constitutional role of the Attorney-General is to conduct investigations discreetly and prosecute only when sufficient evidence is gathered, not to litigate matters through the media. He urged Dr. Ayine to conclude the investigation and formally charge Ken Ofori-Atta if a case exists, rather than engaging in what he termed "public gimmicks and theatrics" that do not befit the office, warning against prejudicing potential judicial proceedings.

For his part, Attorney-General Dr. Dominic Ayine had confirmed on January 10, 2026, that investigations into Ofori-Atta’s activities, separate from the well-known SML case, were indeed ongoing. He disclosed that his office is collaborating with both local and foreign authorities to track alleged offshore dealings linked to the former minister, currently in US custody. However, Dr. Ayine clarified that this probe is still in its early stages and has not yet reached any conclusions, with no charges having been filed in connection to these specific offshore allegations, a point Mr. Davies has either dismissed or questioned the validity of given its inconclusive nature.