Former Ghana Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has been detained by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) over questions relating to the status of his stay in the country, his legal team has confirmed.
According to a statement issued by his lawyers, Mr Ofori-Atta is currently cooperating fully with US immigration authorities while efforts are being made to resolve the matter as quickly as possible.
The legal team explained that the former minister has a pending petition for adjustment of status, a standard immigration process under US law that allows an individual to remain in the country legally beyond the expiration of an initial visa.
The lawyers described the procedure as routine and expressed confidence that the issue would be resolved expeditiously. They emphasised that Mr Ofori-Atta has complied with all legal requirements and remains committed to working within the law while the matter is being reviewed.
The development comes at a particularly sensitive time, as Mr Ofori-Atta has been receiving medical care in the United States since January 2025. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer after medical examinations conducted in March 2025, including MRI scans and a biopsy, revealed signs of cancer progression.
Following weeks of close monitoring and treatment, he underwent a radical prostatectomy on Friday, June 13, at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Medical professionals reportedly described the surgery as a critical and necessary intervention after tests showed an increased spread of cancer cells within the prostate.
Sources close to the family indicate that the former finance minister had been under strict medical supervision in the weeks leading up to the surgery and continues to receive follow-up care as part of his recovery process. In addition to the cancer diagnosis, Mr Ofori-Atta has also been managing post-COVID Multi-System Inflammatory Response Syndrome, a condition first identified in February 2021, which has required ongoing medical oversight.
Mr Ofori-Atta served as Ghana’s Finance Minister from 2017 to 2023, a period marked by significant economic challenges, including the global COVID-19 pandemic, domestic debt restructuring, and negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). His tenure placed him at the centre of Ghana’s economic management during one of the country’s most difficult financial periods in recent history.
Beyond his health and immigration concerns, Mr Ofori-Atta is also facing legal challenges in Ghana. In November 2025, the Office of the Special Prosecutor charged him and others with corruption and corruption-related offences. The case is currently at the case management conference stage, with proceedings ongoing.
His legal team has stressed that Mr Ofori-Atta remains a law-abiding citizen who is committed to addressing both his immigration status in the United States and the legal processes unfolding in Ghana. As discussions with US authorities continue, the situation remains under close public and political scrutiny both at home and abroad.
