The United States immigration authorities have detained Ghana’s former finance minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, facing multiple corruption allegations in his home country.
Ofori-Atta, 66, has been in the United States since late 2024, undergoing medical treatment, including surgery for prostate cancer.
His lawyers said on Wednesday that officials of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) took him into custody over questions surrounding the status of his stay in the country.
In a statement, his legal team said Ofori-Atta has a pending application to regularise his immigration status, which allows him to remain in the US beyond the validity of his visa. They added that his American lawyers are in contact with ICE and expect the matter to be resolved quickly.
“Mr Ofori-Atta is cooperating fully with immigration authorities,” the statement said.
ICE’s online detainee database confirms that the former minister is being held at the Caroline Detention Facility in Bowling Green, Virginia.
In Ghana, Ofori-Atta is reportedly facing 78 counts of corruption and corruption-related offences.
Authorities allege that he and seven others were involved in a scheme to improperly secure procurement contracts for Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Ltd, resulting in financial losses estimated at more than GH¢1.4bn ($128m).
The charges include conspiracy to influence the procurement process, abuse of public office and causing financial loss to the state.
Other defendants in the case include Ernest Darko Akore, Emmanuel Kofi Nti, Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, Isaac Crentsil, Kwadwo Damoah, Kwadwo Damoah, and Evans Adusei, the chief executive of SML.
Ghana’s Attorney-General has formally requested Ofori-Atta’s extradition, while the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, has insisted that the former minister must appear in person to answer the charges, rejecting appeals for virtual participation on medical grounds.
“We will not countenance this conduct, not in this case,” Agyebeng said, stressing the government’s determination to pursue accountability under its anti-corruption drive.
Ofori-Atta served as finance minister from January 2017 until February 2024 under former President Nana Akufo-Addo, overseeing major tax reforms and negotiations with the International Monetary Fund during a period of economic turbulence.
His lawyers, both in Ghana and the United States, have described the extradition request as politically motivated. A member of his legal team, Frank Davies, said medical records had been submitted to Ghanaian authorities in “good faith” but were ignored.
“The special prosecutor is not being sensitive to the issues at hand, especially knowing that Mr Ofori-Atta is unwell and receiving treatment,” Davies said.
