Ken Ofori-Atta: His visa issues, permanent residence application and ICE detention

Ken Ofori-Atta the former Minister of Finance of Ghana is running away from justice. He is wanted in Ghana by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), to come and answer criminal charges in court.

He was appointed the Minister of Finance in January 2017. He served until he was relieved of his post on February 14, 2024.

Ofori-Atta currently being held in detention by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), over visa issues has been hiding in the US for almost a year now, doing everything he could to evade justice under the excuse of seeking medical care. Even though he has assured the Ghanaian law enforcement authorities that he would return to Ghana when he is medically fit to fly, he is known to have flown to other countries except Ghana. He has since been making efforts not to return to the country to face justice. He has hired lawyers to push back against the demand for his return, making claims that the accusations were politically motivated.

He and seven others have been charged in court by the OSP for engaging in a scheme to improperly secure procurement contracts for Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Ltd. According to the Prosecution the scheme resulted in financial losses to Ghana exceeding GH¢1.4 billion. They are also being accused of influencing the procurement process for unlawful gain and using public office for profit.

The Prosecution said if the State had not intervened, many more billions of dollars would have been lost to state.

The others are Ernest Darko Akore, Emmanuel Kofi Nti Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, Isaac Crentsil and Kwadwo Damoah.

They are facing the charges for conspiracy to commit criminal offence of directly or indirectly influencing the procurement process to obtain an unfair advantage in the award of a procurement contract, contrary to section 23(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) and section 92(2) of the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663).

The former Minister and Ernest Darko Akore, who was the Chef de Cabinet of Ofori-Atta, and also out of the country, have all been charged in absentia.

INTERPOL Red Notice

When he evaded arrest and didn’t show any indication of returning to Ghana, Ofori-Atta was declared wanted, and later charged in court in absentia by the OSP over corruption and corruption related charges on 28 counts. The Attorney-General’s Department of Ghana has filed for his extradition, awaiting US government response. He has meanwhile been put on INTERPOL Red Notice. He has been challenging that action in court. His lawyers have been contesting his being on the Red Notice and INTERPOL has requested from the OSP a justification for why he should continue to be on the Red Notice, and the OSP has responded, awaiting INTERPOL’s response.

Application for US permanent residency

While at it, in June 2025 he applied for permanent residence in the US. A clear indication of his unwillingness to return to Ghana. His application has been under consideration by US immigration authorities. His arrest could possibly be linked to following up on his application. In the pursuant of US President, Donald Trump’s major anti-immigration policy, ICE has intensified its activities arresting, detaining and deporting immigrants. In some instances, permanent residents and American citizens have been arbitrarily arrested, manhandled, detained and even deported.

His visa expires on Valentine’s Day February 14, 2026

Ofori-Atta’s current visitor visa to the US is due to expire on Valentine’s Day February 14, 2026. That also explains why he is doing everything possible to get his application for a residence permit granted.

It is not known yet how long he would be held in detention under the current realities in the US. It is also unclear if he would be deported or his residence permit would be granted.

Whatever happens, it is clear Ofori-Atta would not willingly happily return to Ghana. He might have to be deported or extradited.

By Emmanuel K Dogbevi

The post Ken Ofori-Atta: His visa issues, permanent residence application and ICE detention appeared first on Ghana Business News.