Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States of America, Victor Emmanuel Smith, has said that the former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has expressed apprehension over his fate should he return to Ghana.
According to Mr Smith, this fear was expressed by Mr Ofori-Atta’s cousin, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko in a phone conversation.
“Gabby called me and said Ken wants to come but he is afraid of how he will be treated,” Mr Smith said on TV3’s The KeyPoints on January 17.
” So I told him I wanted to meet Ken and give him the assurance that he will be taken through the legal process, because the Attorney-General, Dr Ayine gave me that assurance,” Ambassador Smith said.
Meanwhile, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) unit has described Ghana’s former Finance Minister Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta as an “illegal alien” who has overstayed his permitted admission.
An ICE Spokesperson provided this clarification in a correspondence with Tv3’s Joseph Ackah-Blay.
The journalist contacted the Immigration office with the aim of understanding the circumstances surrounding the arrest of Mr. Ofori-Atta by posing the following questions:
“1.Are you currently holding a Ghanaian national by name Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta
2. What is the basis for the detention if he is being held?
3. Has there been any judicial process since his detention?
4. Are you aware there is a pending request for his extradition to Ghana by the Government of Ghana?
5. If you are aware of (4), did it influence the decision to detain him and do you have any intention to extradite him to Ghana?
6.Are there any publicly available documents relating to this detention you are able to share with me?”
ICE Response
ICE in response provided information generally regarding the detention.
There have been multiple reports on why Ofori-Atta was arrested. While some publications have suggested his visa was revoked, others have linked his arrest to Ghana’s extradition request.
ICE clarification
ICE says Mr. Ofori Atta entered the United States on May 28, 2025 on a visitor’s visa. This visa, ICE says had an expiration date of November 27, 2025.
“Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta is an illegal alien from Ghana that is facing corruption and corruption related charges in his home country. He entered the United States on May 28, 2025, on a visitor’s visa with an expiration date of Nov. 27, 2025. Ofori-Atta overstayed his permitted admission.”
The Immigration unit adds Mr. Ofori-Atta will remain in custody as he is taken through due process of law.
