United States immigration authorities have detained Ken Ofori-Atta, Ghana’s former finance minister, who is wanted in his home country on suspicion of corruption, according to his legal representatives.
Ofori-Atta, 66, has been in the United States since January last year for medical treatment, including surgery for prostate cancer. His lawyers said he was taken into custody on Tuesday by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) over issues related to the status of his stay in the country.
In a statement, the legal team explained that the former minister had applied for an extension of his stay in the US while undergoing treatment. They added that his American lawyers are in contact with immigration officials and expect the matter to be resolved promptly, stressing that Ofori-Atta is fully cooperating with authorities.
ICE’s online detainee database shows that he is currently being held at a detention facility in Virginia.
Ofori-Atta was declared a fugitive by Ghanaian authorities in February last year and was formally charged with corruption in November, amid investigations into alleged financial misconduct during his time in office.
He served as Ghana’s finance minister from 2017 to 2024 under former president Nana Akufo-Addo, a period marked by controversial tax policies and negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as the country grappled with economic challenges.
Ghanaian authorities have not yet commented publicly on his detention in the United States.