Former Ghanaian Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has been detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) due to issues with his stay in the United States.
According to a public notice issued by his Ghanaian lawyers, Minkah-Premo, Osei-Bonsu, Bruce-Cathline and Partners (MPOBB), Ofori-Atta’s US legal team is working with ICE to resolve the matter, which involves a pending petition for adjustment of status allowing him to stay in the US legally past his visa’s validity period.
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The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as of yesterday, detained the former Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, regarding the status of his current stay in the United States,” the statement read.
Justice Kusi-Minkah Premo Esq., of MPOBB, assured the public that Ofori-Atta is cooperating with ICE and his legal team is working to expedite the resolution. “The Public is, therefore, advised to note that he is a law-abiding person and is fully cooperating with ICE to have this issue resolved. His legal team is in contact with ICE and working to resolve the matter as expeditiously as possible,” the statement added.
The detention comes amidst ongoing corruption allegations against Ofori-Atta in Ghana, with the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) declaring him a fugitive and securing an INTERPOL Red Notice for his arrest. The OSP has stated that extraditing Ofori-Atta from the US is uncertain due to complexities in international law and diplomatic protocols.
Ofori-Atta served as Ghana’s Finance Minister from 2017 to 2021 and was a key figure in the country’s economic policies during his tenure. The reasons behind his current visit to the US and the specific issues with his immigration status have not been disclosed.
The Ghanaian public and officials are closely watching the developments, with many calling for transparency and accountability in the matter. As the situation unfolds, Ofori-Atta’s legal team is working to resolve the issue and secure his release.
