Ken Ofori-Atta, the former Ghanaian Minister of Finance, suspected of corruption and declared a fugitive by Ghanaian authorities since February, has been detained by U.S. immigration authorities (ICE) due to his immigrant status, his lawyers confirmed on January 7.

According to a statement from his legal team in Ghana, ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) “arrested the former Finance Minister because of his immigration status in the United States.”

Ofori-Atta, 66, has been in the U.S. since January 2025 for medical treatment, including prostate cancer surgery. He has been under investigation by Ghanaian authorities for over a year, declared a fugitive in February, and formally charged with corruption in November. He is suspected of causing significant financial losses to the Ghanaian state through large, allegedly suspicious public fund transactions.

Contact with ICE

His lawyers said Ofori-Atta had filed an adjustment of status application, which under U.S. law allows an applicant to remain legally in the country beyond the validity of their visa.

“His U.S. legal team is in contact with ICE and expects the matter to be resolved quickly,” the statement added, noting that Ofori-Atta is fully cooperating with immigration authorities.

The ICE online detainee locator listed him on January 7 as being held at the Caroline Detention Center in Virginia (East Coast).

Influential Figure in Ghana

Ken Ofori-Atta served as Ghana’s Minister of Finance from 2017 to 2024 under former President Nana Akufo-Addo and was one of the most influential figures in Ghana’s recent economic management, overseeing controversial fiscal reforms and negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Under the Trump administration, visa issuance for citizens of many African countries was drastically restricted, but Ghana was later removed from the list following an agreement on the reception of deportees from the United States.