US ICE detains Ken Ofori-Atta

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement has detained former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta over his immigration status.

Information published on the ICE website on Wednesday identified Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta, a Ghanaian national, as being in ICE custody in the state of Virginia.

The listing indicated that he was being held at the Caroline Detention Facility, a former county jail repurposed as a federal immigration detention centre.

The online entry, which was widely circulated on social media, showed his status as “in ICE custody,” prompting speculation about the circumstances surrounding his detention and its possible link to legal proceedings in Ghana.

Hours after the information began trending, lawyers for the former finance minister issued a public notice confirming the detention but stressing that it was strictly related to his visa status in the United States.

The statement, signed by Justice Kusi-Minkah Premo of the law firm Minkah-Premo, Osei-Bonsu, Bruce-Cathline & Partners, said Mr Ofori-Atta has a pending petition for adjustment of status.

According to the lawyers, the adjustment of status legally allows an individual to remain in the US beyond the original validity of a visa while the petition is under consideration.

They described the process as common under US law and said Mr Ofori-Atta is fully cooperating with ICE officials to have the matter resolved expeditiously.

“The public is therefore advised to note that Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, as a law-abiding person, is cooperating with ICE to resolve this issue,” the statement said.

The Caroline Detention Facility, where Mr Ofori-Atta spent the night and may remain for several days, can hold up to about 336 adult detainees, including men and women.

Official figures indicate that about 120 inmates at the facility have criminal records.

Mr Ofori-Atta left Ghana on medical grounds before President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo exited office last year. Since then, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has charged him with multiple corruption-related offences.

At one stage, Interpol issued a red notice for his arrest, but this was later withdrawn.

In an interview last year, Deputy Attorney-General Justice Srem-Sai said the OSP had failed to properly coordinate with the Attorney-General’s Department to secure the former minister’s extradition.

In December, the Attorney-General confirmed that a formal extradition request had been submitted, placing Mr Ofori-Atta’s legal situation under renewed international scrutiny.