Ken Ofori-Atta, Ghana's former Finance Minister, has been detained in the United States. His lawyers confirmed on Wednesday that the detention is related to his immigration status. Ofori-Atta is currently applying to change his immigration status to extend his stay in the US beyond his current visa's validity period. His legal team states he is "law-abiding" and anticipates a swift resolution to the matter.
Ofori-Atta is subject to dozens of charges in Ghana stemming from his tenure as Finance Minister, including conspiracy to commit procurement fraud and causing financial loss to the state. Ghanaian prosecutors had previously declared him a fugitive in February of the preceding year, a status later rescinded when his legal team affirmed his intention to return to Ghana. Ghana has requested his extradition, a request which his lawyers are contesting, citing claims of political motivation behind the allegations. Lawyer Enayat Qasimi has stated that Ofori-Atta is "committed to fully complying with the laws of Ghana and... answering for anything he did when he was finance minister."
Ofori-Atta served as Finance Minister from January 2017 to February 2024 during the administration of the New Patriotic Party. The party was succeeded by the National Democratic Congress following the December 2024 elections, with John Mahama assuming the presidency and indicating a focus on anti-corruption efforts.