Former Ghanaian Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has been released from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody under a judicial order, his legal team confirmed on April 8, 2026.

Ofori-Atta was initially detained in January 2026 for overstaying his visitor visa in the United States and was released on bond on April 7, pending further U.S. immigration proceedings.

His legal team emphasized that the detention was related to administrative immigration issues rather than any criminal offense under U.S. law.

Ofori-Atta and seven others were formally charged in November 2025 by Ghana’s Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) with 78 counts of corruption and corruption-related offenses, including conspiracy to influence procurement and causing financial loss to the state, linked to contracts and alleged irregularities during his tenure from 2017 to 2024.

After leaving Ghana for medical treatment in early 2025 and failing to appear for questioning, Ofori-Atta was declared a fugitive by the OSP in February 2025. His lawyers maintain that he has not been formally notified of the charges, a procedural step required under Ghanaian law for him to respond.

Legal experts have clarified that Ofori-Atta’s ICE detention stemmed from immigration compliance alerts connected to the OSP’s international notifications, not a criminal conviction.

They showed the distinction between U.S. immigration proceedings and potential extradition or criminal charges in Ghana, stressing that due process is required in both contexts.

His legal team continues to monitor developments closely and is prepared to take appropriate legal action once formal notification of charges is received from Ghanaian authorities.