Ghana’s former finance minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, wanted at home on corruption charges, has been taken into custody by US immigration authorities, his lawyers confirmed.
Ofori-Atta, 66, has been in the United States since January last year for medical treatment, including surgery for prostate cancer. He was declared a fugitive by Ghanaian authorities in February and formally charged with corruption in November.
According to his legal team, Ofori-Atta had applied to extend his stay in the US when US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained him on Tuesday over the status of his current stay.
“His US legal team is in contact with ICE and expects the matter to be resolved expeditiously,” the lawyers said, adding that Ofori-Atta is fully cooperating with authorities.
ICE’s online database lists him as being held at a facility in Virginia.
Ofori-Atta served as Ghana’s finance minister from 2017 to 2024 under former President Nana Akufo-Addo, during which he implemented contentious tax reforms and led negotiations with the International Monetary Fund.