Ghana’s former Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, is currently in the custody of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) over issues linked to his immigration status, his lawyers have confirmed.
In a public notice issued on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, Ghana-based law firm Minkah-Premo, Osei-Bonsu, Bruce-Cathline and Partners (MPOBB) clarified that the detention is procedural and not connected to any criminal wrongdoing.
According to the statement, ICE raised questions about Mr Ofori-Atta’s continued stay in the United States. The former minister, however, has a pending petition for adjustment of status, a legal process under U.S. immigration law that allows an individual to remain in the country beyond the validity of their original visa while their application is being processed.
The law firm disclosed that Mr Ofori-Atta’s U.S. legal team is actively engaging ICE and is confident the matter will be resolved promptly. They stressed that he is cooperating fully with immigration authorities and urged the public to remain calm.
“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 statement said.
“Mr. Ofori-Atta has a pending petition for adjustment of status, which authorizes a person to stay in the US legally past the period of validity of their visa. Under US law, a change of status by this method is common. 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.”
Where he is being held
Mr Ofori-Atta is being held at the Caroline Detention Facility in Virginia, an immigration detention centre operated by ICE. The facility was formerly known as the Peumansend Creek Regional Jail and was converted into an immigration holding centre after its closure in 2017.
Located about four miles north of Fort A.P. Hill along Route 301, the centre sits on roughly 150 acres of land and has the capacity to accommodate up to 336 undocumented adult immigrants who are undergoing immigration processing, status reviews or removal proceedings.
The facility operates under a five-year agreement between Caroline County and the United States Department of Homeland Security for the detention and care of administrative detainees.
It comprises seven main buildings, including an administrative block and six residential units. One of the residential units is designated for female detainees, while the remaining five house male detainees.
Legal challenges in Ghana
The detention comes amid ongoing legal challenges facing the former finance minister in Ghana.
Mr Ofori-Atta is among eight individuals facing 78 counts of alleged corruption linked to the Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML) revenue assurance contract with the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA). The charges reportedly include alleged breaches of Section 23(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), and Section 92(2)(b) of the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663).
Last month, Attorney General Dr Dominic Ayine disclosed that an extradition request for Mr Ofori-Atta had been transmitted to the United States.
While the immigration matter in the U.S. is being treated as a procedural issue, the case continues to draw strong public interest due to Mr Ofori-Atta’s past role in Ghana’s economic management and the broader legal proceedings surrounding him.
Further updates are expected as engagements with U.S. immigration authorities and legal processes continue.