Ghana’s former finance minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, 66, has been taken into custody by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while his stay in the country is under review, his lawyers confirmed.
Ofori-Atta has been in the United States since January last year to receive medical treatment, including surgery for prostate cancer. The former minister, who served from 2017 to 2024 under President Nana Akufo-Addo, was declared a fugitive in February 2025 and formally charged with corruption in November of the same year.
His legal team stated that Ofori-Atta had applied to extend his stay in the US and that they were in contact with ICE to resolve the matter quickly. “He is cooperating fully with immigration authorities,” the statement said.
According to ICE’s online database, Ofori-Atta is currently being held at a facility in Virginia.
During his tenure, Ofori-Atta oversaw controversial tax reforms and led negotiations with the International Monetary Fund, which drew both domestic and international attention.
AFP
