Former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta was detained by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on January 7, 2026.
While this has fueled speculation about his potential extradition to Ghana amid ongoing corruption investigations, the primary reason for his detention is unrelated to the extradition request.
Instead, it comes on the back of concerns over his immigration status in the US, specifically allegations of overstaying his visa.
His legal team has clarified that he is cooperating with authorities and has a pending petition for adjustment of status, which legally allows him to remain in the country beyond his visa’s expiration while the application is processed.
Efforts are underway by his lawyers to secure his release, and no deportation has been confirmed at this time.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor has been investigating Ken Ofori-Atta for alleged corruption and financial improprieties during his tenure as Finance Minister.
In February 2025, the OSP declared him a “fugitive of justice” after he left Ghana for medical treatment in the US and failed to return for questioning. The OSP accused him of portraying himself as a victim to justify his absence.
Ofori-Atta, through his lawyers, responded that he was indefinitely out of the country for health reasons and offered to have his legal representatives handle proceedings on his behalf.
The OSP has since refuted claims that it is delaying the process, emphasizing that the investigations are ongoing and that Ofori-Atta could return voluntarily or face forced measures.
In November 2025, Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng noted the complexity of international extraditions, highlighting that no fixed timeline exists and that the US President could potentially intervene.
Ghana’s Attorney General’s office formally submitted an extradition request to the United States in December 2025 to bring Ofori-Atta back to face trial on the OSP’s corruption charges.
Meanwhile, Ofori-Atta’s detention by ICE has intensified calls for his return to Ghana, with his trial currently underway by the OSP.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) began investigating former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta for alleged corruption and financial improprieties during his tenure from 2017 to 2023.
In February 2025, after he left for medical treatment in the US and failed to return for questioning, the OSP declared him a fugitive.
In November 2025, the OSP charged Ofori-Atta and seven others (including his former chef de cabinet, Ernest Darko Akore) with corruption-related offenses.
The trial is ongoing at the case management conference stage and has been adjourned.