Ken Ofori-Atta, the former Finance Minister of Ghana, has been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials, according to a statement from his legal representatives.
The law firm Minkah-Premo, Osei-Bonsu, Bruce-Cathline and Partners (MPOBB) confirmed the detention Wednesday night, attributing it to a matter concerning “the status of his current stay in the United States.”
In their official statement, the firm clarified that Ofori-Atta’s U.S. legal team is actively engaged with ICE and anticipates a swift resolution. The statement detailed that the former minister has a pending “petition for adjustment of status,” a common legal process that allows an individual to remain in the U.S. lawfully beyond their original visa’s expiration.
“Mr. Ofori-Atta is a law-abiding person and is fully cooperating with ICE to have this issue resolved,” the firm’s statement emphasized, urging the public to note his compliance.
The detention brings immediate scrutiny to the travel status of the prominent former official, who served as Ghana’s finance minister from 2017 until 2024. The legal team has expressed confidence that the administrative matter will be settled expeditiously.
