Washington, United States — Former Ghanaian finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta has been held by United States immigration officers since 6 January for allegedly overstaying his visa, according to statements released by his Ghana-based legal team. Official statements indicate that the 65-year-old former minister was taken into custody by U. S.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while already seeking an extension of his authorisation to remain in the country. His lawyers in Accra say U. S.
Counsel are now working to resolve the paperwork.
The detention coincides with an unresolved extradition request from Ghana, where prosecutors labelled Ofori — Atta a fugitive in February 2025 after he failed to appear in court on multiple corruption and financial-crime charges.
The charges stem from debt — restructuring deals concluded while he served as finance minister between 2017 and early 2024.
Local reports say Ofori — Atta travelled abroad in 2025 for medical treatment and has remained overseas since. Ghana’s Office of the Special Prosecutor subsequently filed the criminal counts and initiated extradition proceedings, which have yet to move forward.
Independent observers note that the visa — overstay matter is being handled as a routine immigration issue in the U.
S. Ghanaian activist and lawyer Oliver Barker-Vormawor told local media the arrest “is not connected to any extradition request,” urging the public to treat the two processes separately.
Neither U.
S. Nor Ghanaian authorities have disclosed a timeline for either the immigration case or the extradition file.
Further details on Ofori — Atta’s medical condition or next court steps were not immediately available.
Source: Africa.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 4*
