Accra, Ghana – The name of Ghana’s former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, is no longer appearing on the official detainee list of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to a check conducted by GhanaWeb on Wednesday, April 8, 2026.
This development comes three months after Ofori-Atta was arrested and detained by ICE on January 6, 2026. Following his initial detention, he was listed on the ICE website as an “illegal alien,” with details including his country of birth, immigration status, and detention facility.
However, a fresh search of the ICE online detainee locator system on Wednesday returned zero matching records for the former minister. The system’s message to users read: "Your search has returned zero (0) matching records. Please re-check the search terms you entered to ensure they are correct and try your query again."
The removal of his name suggests a possible change in his legal status within the United States, though no official confirmation has been issued by either ICE or Ofori-Atta’s legal team at the time of this report.
Background of the Arrest
Ofori-Atta’s legal team had previously confirmed his arrest in a public notice on January 7, 2026, attributing it to “the status of his current stay in the United States.” The notice, signed by Justice Kusi-Minkah Premo, explained that the former minister had a pending petition for adjustment of status—a common legal process that allows a person to stay in the US beyond the validity period of their visa.
“Mr. Ofori-Atta has a pending petition for adjustment of status, which authorises a person to stay in the US legally beyond the period of validity of their visa,” the January notice stated, adding that his legal team expected the matter to be resolved expeditiously.
Ongoing Legal Issues in Ghana
While his immigration situation in the US appears to have shifted, Ofori-Atta remains a wanted figure in Ghana. The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has declared him wanted in connection with multiple criminal investigations and has placed him on an Interpol Red Notice.
The OSP has linked the former finance minister to several high-profile cases, including:
- Contractual arrangements between Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited and the Ghana Revenue Authority regarding revenue assurance in the petroleum, mining, and metals sectors.
- The termination of a contract between the Electricity Company of Ghana and Beijing Xiao Cheng Technology for a distribution loss reduction project.
- Procurement and payment processes related to the National Cathedral project.
- A contract awarded by the Ministry of Health for the purchase of 307 Mercedes-Benz ambulances.
- Payments and utilisation of funds from the Ghana Revenue Authority’s Tax Refund Account.
As of now, it remains unclear whether Ofori-Atta is still in US custody or has been released. GhanaWeb has reached out to his legal representatives for comment on his current status.
