Ken Ofori-Atta, Ghana's former Finance Minister, was detained by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on January 7, 2026, at the Caroline Detention Facility in Virginia, sparking an intense debate over whether his arrest is a routine immigration matter or a high-stakes international legal battle. This incident represents a critical intersection of an expired visa, a nation's demand for accountability, and the intricate mechanics of international justice.

Ofori-Atta's legal team, including Frank Davies and Minkah-Premo, Osei-Bonsu, Bruce-Cathline & Partners (MPOBB), has consistently maintained that the detention is a standard administrative process related to his immigration status. They assert that Mr. Ofori-Atta had been in the U.S. since early 2025 for medical treatment, specifically for prostate cancer at the Mayo Clinic, and had filed a petition for an extension of stay or adjustment of status. His lawyers emphasize that he has not overstayed his visa in an unlawful sense, but rather sought to remain legally while his application is processed, reiterating that he is fully cooperating with U.S. authorities and that the matter is expected to be resolved expeditiously.

However, this narrative has been met with considerable skepticism and counter-arguments from legal experts in Ghana. Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu revealed that he had prior knowledge of Ofori-Atta's application for permanent residency in the U.S., a claim that directly contradicts the former Minister's public assurances of returning to Ghana upon the completion of his medical treatment. Kpebu questioned the Office of the Special Prosecutor's (OSP) decision to allow Ofori-Atta to leave Ghana without bail conditions or sureties, deeming the current outcome predictable given the circumstances. The suggestion is that the