Ghana’s former finance Minister, Kenneth Ofori-Atta, is currently in the custody of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following concerns about his immigration status, his lawyers have disclosed.
In a statement released on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, the law firm Minkah-Premo, Osei-Bonsu, Bruce-Cathline and Partners (MPOBB) said the action by ICE is strictly related to the conditions of Mr. Ofori-Atta’s stay in the United States.
According to the statement, his American legal team is already engaging immigration officials and expects the matter to be resolved quickly.
Mr. Ofori-Atta has been in the United States since January 2025, which he has said was for medical treatment.
However, his stay comes against the backdrop of ongoing legal action in Ghana.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has placed him on an Interpol Red Notice over allegations of using public office for profit, a move his lawyers say he is challenging through the courts.
Meanwhile, the Attorney-General, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has formally requested the extradition of the former finance minister from the United States to face corruption-related charges in Ghana.
Mr. Ofori-Atta is standing trial alongside seven other accused persons in a 78-count case linked to disputed revenue assurance contracts awarded to Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML). The case is captured under charge sheet CR/0106/2026.
The other accused persons include Ernest Darko Akore, Emmanuel Kofi Nti, Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, Isaac Crentsil, Col. (Rtd.) Kwadwo Damoah, Evans Adusei, and Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited as a corporate entity.
According to the Office of the Special Prosecutor, the accused persons allegedly conspired to manipulate procurement processes to gain unfair advantage, contrary to Section 23(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) and Section 92(2)(b) of the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663).
Mr. Ofori-Atta’s legal team insists he is not avoiding accountability and maintains that he will cooperate fully with all lawful processes, even as efforts continue to address both his immigration status in the United States and the criminal proceedings in Ghana.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
