Ghana’s Former Finance Minister Arrested by US Immigration Authorities

Ghana’s Former Finance Minister Arrested by US Immigration Authorities – Ghana’s former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, has been arrested by United States immigration authorities while in the country for medical treatment, his legal team has confirmed.

The 66-year-old was taken into custody on January 6, 2026, by officials from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), reportedly over issues related to his immigration status and conditions of stay in the United States.

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Ofori-Atta served as Ghana’s finance minister from 2017 to 2024 under former President Nana Akufo-Addo. He has been in the US since early 2025 seeking treatment for various health complications, including surgery for prostate cancer.

According to his lawyers, the arrest is linked to visa and immigration matters, noting that Ofori-Atta had applied to regularise his legal status in the country. His legal team says it is in active discussions with ICE to resolve the issue swiftly and has stressed that he is fully cooperating with US authorities.

While the detention is not related to any criminal charges in the United States, it comes against the backdrop of escalating legal troubles in Ghana. In November 2025, Ghana’s Office of the Special Prosecutor charged Ofori-Atta in absentia on multiple corruption and procurement-related counts.

The Ghanaian government has since submitted a formal request for his extradition to face trial. Prosecutors allege that Ofori-Atta was involved in a scheme linked to contracts awarded to Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited, which allegedly resulted in significant financial losses to the state.

He was previously declared a fugitive after failing to return to Ghana for questioning and was placed on an INTERPOL Red Notice list last year.

Despite the allegations, some supporters and political figures in Ghana have come to his defence, urging respect for due process and insisting that he would not be unlawfully detained upon his return, as legal and diplomatic efforts surrounding the case continue to unfold