Nation’s Former Finance Minister Detained By ICE

Ghana’s former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Ofori-Atta is wanted in his home country on corruption charges.

Ghana has requested the United States for his extradition, BBC noted.

Ghana’s former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, who is wanted at home on corruption allegations, has been detained in the US over issues related to his immigration status, his lawyers say. https://t.co/TmhAKXng5n pic.twitter.com/IyZiIvL37Q

— BBC News Africa (@BBCAfrica) January 8, 2026

BBC has more:

On Wednesday, confirming his detention in the US, they said they expected the matter to be resolved “expeditiously”.

In a statement, Ofori-Atta’s lawyers said their client was “law-abiding” and was in the process of applying to change his immigration status allowing him to stay in the US “past the period of validity of [his] visa”.

The BBC has contacted ICE for comment.

Ofori-Atta faces dozens of charges relating to his time in office under the previous administration, including conspiracy to commit procurement fraud and causing financial loss to the state.

Last February, prosecutors in Ghana declared the former minister a fugitive, alleging that he was trying to evade investigators. This status was withdrawn when his legal team said he did intend to return.

His lawyer Enayat Qasimi previously told the BBC that Ofori-Atta was “committed to fully complying with the laws of Ghana and… answering for anything he did when he was finance minister”.

BBC provided further coverage:

Ghana has asked the US to extradite the former finance minister over corruption charges. Earlier this year Ken Ofori-Atta was declared a fugitive and Interpol issued a red notice, alerting law enforcement agencies to locate and detain him.
He has denied any wrongdoing. pic.twitter.com/aH8uG25NAc

— BBC News Africa (@BBCAfrica) December 24, 2025

Semafor noted:

Interpol issued a red notice, alerting law enforcement agencies to locate and detain Ofori-Atta, soon after. He has denied any wrongdoing.

The former banker oversaw Ghana’s debt restructuring efforts as finance minister between 2017-2024. He was dismissed by then President Nana Akufo-Addo, his paternal cousin, at a time of soaring inflation and growing calls for his resignation from both opposition and ruling party MPs.

How do you feel about it?