Former Ghanaian Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has been released from the custody of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after his name was removed from the detainee list. According to #JoyNews, Ofori-Atta was released on April 7, 2026, following a judicial order.
Ofori-Atta had been held at an ICE facility in Virginia since January 2026 over violations of US immigration law, specifically relating to overstaying his visa. His legal team maintained that he had a pending application to regularize his status in the United States.
The development has brought a new twist to Ofori-Atta’s ongoing legal troubles in both the US and Ghana. In Ghana, he faces multiple allegations, including causing financial loss to the state, abuse of public office, and breaches of procurement laws linked to high-profile transactions during his tenure as Finance Minister.
According to his lawyers, Minkah-Premo, Osei-Bonsu, Bruce-Cathline and Partners, Ofori-Atta’s detention was not related to any criminal wrongdoing but stemmed from immigration issues concerning his continued stay in the United States.
Ofori-Atta is expected to appear again before an immigration court in Virginia on April 27, 2026, as authorities determine his residency status and potential deportation. The Ghanaian government had formally submitted an extradition request to US authorities in February 2026, seeking his return.
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Author: Stella Sunu
