Ghana’s former finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta, 66, is currently in US immigration custody after being detained Tuesday in Virginia. The development comes nearly a year after he arrived in January 2025 for prostate cancer treatment, according to his legal team.
Once a key architect of Ghana’s economic policies from 2017-2024, Ofori-Atta now faces corruption charges back home. Ghanaian authorities declared him a fugitive last February and formally charged him in November 2025. His lawyers confirm he’s fully cooperating with ICE while contesting his immigration status.
📉 The detention occurs as the US tightens visa rules for several African nations. Analysts note this could strain diplomatic ties ahead of Ghana’s 2026 general elections.
During his tenure, Ofori-Atta led controversial IMF negotiations and tax reforms that sparked nationwide #FixTheCountry protests in 2023. His current health status remains undisclosed, though medical records show he underwent surgery last year.
