Ghana’s former finance minister Ken Ofori Atta has been detained by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement over issues linked to his immigration status.
His Ghanaian lawyers said ICE picked him up as officials review the conditions of his continued stay in the US, and that his American legal team is working to resolve the matter quickly.
Ofori Atta has been declared a fugitive by Ghana’s Office of the Special Prosecutor and is wanted in connection with several corruption related investigations.
The Ghanaian government has already filed an extradition request so he can return home to face charges including alleged irregularities in revenue assurance contracts and spending on the National Cathedral project.
His lawyers say he has a pending petition to adjust his status in the US, which can legally extend a person’s stay beyond the validity of their visa.
They stressed that he is cooperating with ICE and remains committed to following both US immigration procedures and ongoing legal processes in Ghana.
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