Ken Ofori-Atta has been allegedly detained by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency over questions surrounding the status of his stay in the United States.
The reason given regarding the detention of the former Ghanaian Finance Minister stems from issues related to his immigration and visa status.
His legal team confirmed that a pending petition for adjustment of status, a common U.S. immigration process that allows someone to remain in the United States beyond the validity of their original visa while an application is processed.
ICE is questioning the validity of Ofori-Atta’s status, which led to his detention and his lawyers say that he is cooperating with ICE and that his U.S.-based legal team is actively engaging authorities to resolve the matter quickly.
Ofori-Atta has been in the United States since early 2025, reportedly for ongoing medical treatment including surgery for prostate cancer.
Back in Ghana, he faces ongoing legal issues: in late 2025* he was charged by the Office of the Special Prosecutor with corruption-related offences and an extradition request has been filed with U.S. authorities.
His stay in the U.S. has also been marked by efforts to challenge an **INTERPOL Red Notice** and the extradition request through legal channels.
Reports indicate Ofori-Atta is in ICE custody **at the Caroline Detention Facility in Virginia**, a federal immigration detention centre.
Immigration matters such as status adjustments can involve legal hearings and negotiations with ICE — typically handled through immigration courts or administrative review processes in the U.S.
It’s unclear when a decision will be made on his release or next steps, but his legal team expects a resolution expeditiously.
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