Lawyers to former Ghana finance minister, Ofori-Atta, have confirmed that he was taken into custody by United States immigration authorities on Tuesday, 7 January, while a petition concerning his stay in the country remains pending.
They said his legal team is in contact with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and expects the matter to be resolved quickly. An ICE detainee locator indicates that Ofori-Atta is currently being held at the Caroline detention facility. He has reportedly been in the United States for more than a year, mainly for medical treatment.
The detention comes amid ongoing legal proceedings in Ghana, where authorities declared him wanted in February 2025 for failing to respond to invitations over alleged corruption-related matters. Charges were subsequently filed against him and six others in November 2025.
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In December 2025, Ghana formally requested his extradition to face the charges. Despite the high-profile nature of the case, Ghanaian authorities have yet to issue any public comment following his detention.
Ofori-Atta served as finance minister from 2017 to 2024 under former president Nana Akufo-Addo, overseeing the country’s economic policies during a period marked by fiscal challenges and debt restructuring.
As of the time of reporting, neither ICE nor Ghanaian officials have provided further updates on the matter.
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