Former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta was recently detained by U.S. immigration authorities, prompting his lawyer, Frank Davies, to clarify the circumstances of his stay. Mr. Davies stated emphatically that his client is not in the United States unlawfully and that his detention is “separate and distinct” from situations typically involving illegal immigrants. He explained that Mr. Ofori-Atta entered the U.S. on a medical conference or medical procedure visa, which remains valid until February 14. Crucially, Mr. Ofori-Atta had already applied for an extension of his stay, differentiating his case from individuals who have overstayed their welcome. Davies underscored that if his client were an illegal immigrant, deportation proceedings would have been initiated immediately.

Reports indicate that Mr. Ofori-Atta was picked up by officers of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) this week, triggering a legal process. Following these developments, private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu suggested that Ghana could explore diplomatic channels to seek Mr. Ofori-Atta’s deportation. However, Mr. Kpebu cautioned that such a process would be complex, noting that while Ghana might attempt to negotiate a “simple deportation” through diplomatic engagement, it would not be straightforward. He cited Mr. Ofori-Atta’s investments in the U.S. economy as a factor and described the matter as legally and politically complicated, advising against expectations of an easy resolution.

Adding another layer of complexity, Mr. Ofori-Atta faces corruption charges in Ghana, having been declared a fugitive last February and formally charged in November. Despite this, Frank Davies clarified that neither Ghana’s Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) nor the Attorney-General has contacted Mr. Ofori-Atta’s U.S. legal team regarding this specific detention. Davies reiterated that his team is exclusively addressing the matter from a U.S. legal standpoint, suggesting any actions by Ghanaian authorities would be handled independently. Currently, Mr. Ofori-Atta is held in a facility in Virginia, according to the ICE database. His lawyers are working towards an expeditious resolution and maintain that the detention is unrelated to any potential extradition attempts by Ghanaian authorities. Davies urged the public to rely on verified information, assuring that Mr. Ofori-Atta’s rights are fully protected under U.S. law.