Ghana’s former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has been detained by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement while seeking medical treatment in America.
The 66-year-old who served from 2017 to 2024 under ex-President Nana Akufo-Addo faces corruption charges back home including fraud and financial damage to the state.
Ghanaian authorities declared him a fugitive last February formally charging him in November after he left for prostate cancer surgery in January 2025.
US lawyers confirm Ofori-Atta applied to extend his stay cooperating fully with ICE expecting swift resolution of his immigration status issue.
ICE holds him at a Virginia facility amid ongoing extradition requests from Ghana which his team contests as politically motivated.
Ofori-Atta oversaw controversial tax reforms IMF negotiations and debt restructuring during Ghana’s worst economic crisis in decades.
His detention reignites debates over high-profile graft cases with opposition demanding accountability across Africa’s governance landscape.
Ghanaian prosecutors lifted fugitive status briefly when he signaled return intent but troubles persist complicating cross-border legal battles.
US immigration action highlights tensions between medical humanitarian stays corruption probes and visa compliance enforcement.
Regional analysts watch closely as outcomes could influence extradition precedents for fugitive officials seeking refuge abroad.
Ofori-Atta legal squad coordinates with Ghanaian counsel pushing for release while navigating dual jurisdiction pressures.
The saga underscores challenges pursuing justice against influential figures who leverage international mobility during domestic scrutiny.
