Get real time updates directly on you device, subscribe now.
Subscribe
Ghana’s former finance minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, has been detained by United States immigration authorities, according to his legal representatives, in a development that adds a new international dimension to ongoing corruption proceedings in Ghana.
Ofori-Atta, who served as finance minister from 2017 to 2024 under former president Nana Akufo-Addo, was taken into custody while in the United States for medical treatment. His lawyer confirmed that the detention relates to the status of his stay in the country and expressed confidence that the issue would be resolved promptly.
The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) database lists the former minister as being held at a detention facility in Virginia.
Back in Ghana, Ofori-Atta is wanted on corruption-related charges. He was declared a fugitive in February 2025 and formally charged in November, following investigations into his conduct while in office. Ghanaian authorities have accused him of wrongdoing linked to financial management decisions made during a period of economic strain.
As finance minister, Ofori-Atta played a central role in shaping Ghana’s fiscal policy, overseeing controversial tax reforms and leading negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as the country sought to stabilize its economy amid rising debt and inflationary pressures.
The case has drawn significant public attention in Ghana, where accountability, governance, and corruption remain key political issues. Ofori-Atta’s detention abroad underscores the increasingly transnational nature of legal and financial accountability for public officials, particularly in an era of heightened cooperation between governments on migration and law enforcement matters.
No official extradition request has been confirmed at this stage, and it remains unclear whether US authorities will take further action beyond resolving his immigration status.
Related