US Immigration Detains Former Ghanaian Finance Minister Over Visa Irregularities

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Ken Ofori-Atta, who served as Ghana’s Finance Minister from 2017 to 2024, is currently in the custody of U.S. immigration officials amid ongoing legal troubles in his home country.

According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) records, the 66-year-old former minister is being held at a Virginia detention facility. His lawyers confirmed that the detention occurred on Tuesday over questions regarding his visa status, following a request for an extension after undergoing prostate cancer surgery and other medical treatments.

“His U.S. legal team is actively engaging with ICE and anticipates a swift resolution,” the representatives said, stressing that Ofori-Atta is cooperating fully with authorities.

The former minister has faced legal scrutiny in Ghana since February 2025, when he was declared a fugitive. By November of that year, formal corruption charges were filed against him. He has remained outside Ghana since January 2025.

The charges are connected to his tenure under former President Nana Akufo-Addo, particularly regarding controversial tax measures and negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Details on whether Ofori-Atta will return to Ghana to confront the allegations have not been disclosed.

At present, there is no public timeline for his release from U.S. custody, as his legal team continues discussions with immigration officials.