Former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, has been detained by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) over issues relating to his immigration status in the United States.
His Ghana-based legal team, Minkah-Premo, Osei-Bonsu, Bruce-Cathline and Partners (MPOBB), confirmed the development in a public notice issued on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, and signed by Justice Kusi-Minkah Premo Esq.
The law firm explained that the detention arose from challenges regarding the status of Mr. Ofori-Atta’s continued stay in the U.S., adding that his American legal team is already engaging ICE to resolve the matter expeditiously.
“The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as of yesterday, detained the former Minister for Finance, Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta, regarding 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 notice stated.
Asaase Radio, which first reported the detention, said Mr. Ofori-Atta has a pending petition for adjustment of status, a process under U.S. immigration law that allows an individual to remain in the country legally beyond the validity of an initial visa.
According to the report, the legal team stressed that such petitions are common and lawful, and advised the public to remain calm as the matter is being addressed through the appropriate legal channels.
The lawyers further assured that Mr. Ofori-Atta is cooperating fully with U.S. immigration authorities.
“The public is therefore advised to note that he is a law-abiding person and is fully cooperating with ICE to have this issue resolved. His legal team remains in contact with ICE and is working to resolve the matter as expeditiously as possible,” the statement added.
Background
Mr. Ofori-Atta has been in the United States since January 2025 for medical treatment. He underwent a radical prostatectomy on June 13, 2025, at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, following a diagnosis of prostate cancer.
The diagnosis was confirmed in March 2025 after MRI scans and a biopsy revealed progression of the cancer. He had been receiving treatment and medical monitoring in the U.S. prior to the surgery.
He has also been managing post-COVID Multi-System Inflammatory Response Syndrome, diagnosed in February 2021, a condition requiring ongoing medical oversight.
Mr. Ofori-Atta served as Ghana’s Finance Minister from 2017 to 2023, overseeing the economy during the COVID-19 pandemic and Ghana’s IMF negotiations.
In November 2025, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) charged him and others with corruption and corruption-related offences. The case is currently at the case management conference (CMC) stage.
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The post Ofori-Atta allegedly detained by US immigration appeared first on The Ghanaian Chronicle.
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