Ghana’s former finance minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, who is wanted in his home country on suspicion of corruption, has been detained by US immigration authorities, his lawyers confirmed.
Ofori-Atta, 66, has been in the United States since January 2025 to receive medical treatment, including surgery for prostate cancer. He was declared a fugitive by Ghanaian authorities in February 2025 and formally charged with corruption in November.
His legal team said Ofori-Atta had applied to extend his stay in the US. On Tuesday, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) took him into custody over “the status of his current stay in the United States.”
“His US legal team is in contact with ICE and expects the matter to be resolved expeditiously,” the lawyers added, stressing that Ofori-Atta is cooperating fully with authorities.
ICE’s online database lists Ofori-Atta as being held at a facility in Virginia.
Ofori-Atta served as Ghana’s finance minister from 2017 to 2024 under former President Nana Akufo-Addo, overseeing controversial tax reforms and negotiations with the International Monetary Fund.
AFP
