Ken Ofori-Atta, Ghana’s former Finance Minister, has been released from a U.S. immigration detention centre after issues with his immigration status.
Checks at the detention facility confirmed that his name is no longer on the list of detainees, though officials did not give more details. He had been in custody since January 2026.
His lawyers said the detention was not because of any crime, but due to questions about his right to stay in the United States.
However, he is still facing serious legal problems. He and five others have more than 70 criminal charges related to corruption investigations. One case involves a contract that allegedly caused the state to lose over GH¢1.4 billion.
In February 2026, the Government of Ghana asked the U.S. to send him back (extradition), and U.S. authorities confirmed they received the request.
He is expected to appear again in a U.S. immigration court in Virginia on April 27. Earlier, his visa was cancelled after he failed to leave the country as ordered in November 2025.
Ofori-Atta served as Finance Minister from 2017 to early 2024. He has been under investigation for decisions made while in office. Although an international arrest alert was once issued for him, it has now been removed.
Ghana|Atinkaonline.com
