Former Ghana Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta Detained in U.S. as Immigration and Extradition Issues Collide

Washington, D.C.: Former Ghanaian Minister of Finance Ken Ofori-Atta has been taken into custody in the United States by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) over unresolved immigration documentation issues, his legal team has confirmed.

Ofori-Atta, 66, was detained earlier this week and is currently being held at the Caroline Detention Facility in Virginia. According to his U.S.-based lawyers, the detention is administrative and related to questions surrounding his visa and residency status.

In a statement released Wednesday, January 7, 2026, his attorneys said Ofori-Atta has an active application seeking to regularize his immigration status and was detained during a routine review of his records. They emphasized that he is cooperating fully with U.S. immigration authorities and expressed confidence that the matter will be resolved once the necessary documentation is reviewed.

“This is an immigration compliance issue, not a criminal one,” a member of his legal team said, adding that discussions with ICE are ongoing.

The detention comes amid unresolved legal challenges for Ofori-Atta in Ghana. Authorities there have charged the former finance minister with multiple corruption-related offenses tied to his time in office, including allegations of abuse of public office and financial misconduct. Ofori-Atta has consistently denied the accusations.

In early 2025, Ghana’s Office of the Special Prosecutor declared him a fugitive after he failed to appear for questioning. An Interpol Red Notice was later issued to help locate him internationally.

The Government of Ghana has since filed a formal extradition request with the United States, seeking his return to face the charges. It remains unclear whether ICE’s current detention will accelerate, delay, or otherwise affect the extradition process.

U.S. authorities have not publicly commented on the case, and no timeline has been provided for how long Ofori-Atta will remain in detention as both immigration and extradition proceedings continue.

Alternative Headlines (pick your tone)

• ICE Detains Former Ghana Finance Minister as Extradition Request Hangs

• Ken Ofori-Atta Held in U.S. Over Immigration Status Amid Ghana Corruption Case

• Immigration Detention Puts Former Ghana Finance Minister Back in the Spotlight

• Ofori-Atta Detained in Virginia as Ghana Seeks Extradition