Ghana’s Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, has disclosed new details surrounding the detention of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta in the United States, clarifying that his situation goes beyond a routine immigration issue. According to the Attorney-General, Ofori-Atta’s U.S. visa was formally revoked by American authorities, a move he says is linked to ongoing investigations rather than an accidental overstay.
Dr Ayine made the revelation on Saturday, January 10, while speaking on Newsfile, a current affairs programme that examined the legal and political implications of the case. He dismissed suggestions circulating in public discourse that the former finance minister merely remained in the U.S. beyond the permitted duration of his visa.
“This is not exactly about immigration,” Ayine said. “His visa is not expired. It expires in February. It was revoked. I am telling you this on authority.”
Deadline Ignored, Status Withdrawn
According to the Attorney-General, U.S. authorities had initially instructed Ofori-Atta to leave the country by November 29, 2024. When he failed to comply with that directive, his immigration status was withdrawn, effectively rendering his stay unlawful under U.S. law.
Dr Ayine stressed that the revocation was not an administrative error or a routine enforcement action but a deliberate decision taken within the context of broader legal processes. He indicated that the U.S. government had been acting on information connected to investigations being pursued by Ghanaian authorities.
“This was intentional,” he said, adding that the Ghanaian government has been cooperating closely with U.S. officials on the matter.
Arrest and Detention in Virginia
Providing further details, the Attorney-General revealed that U.S. authorities had initially planned to arrest Ofori-Atta on January 4, 2026. However, that attempt did not materialise. He was later apprehended on January 6 in the Virginia area and taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Following his arrest, Ofori-Atta was transferred to the Caroline Detention Facility, where he remains in detention pending the resolution of his immigration and legal status.
Dr Ayine disclosed that Ghana has submitted an extradition request to the United States, linking it directly to investigations involving the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), particularly the controversial Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML) revenue assurance deal.
“I have been working with the Americans diligently on him,” Ayine said. “The visa was revoked, and that is how he lost his immigration status in the United States.”
Legal Team Responds
Ofori-Atta’s lawyers have offered a different perspective, emphasizing that steps were already being taken to regularise his stay in the U.S. Frank Davies, a member of the former minister’s legal team, said Ofori-Atta had filed a petition to extend his immigration status before he was detained.
Speaking to Citi Eyewitness News on January 8, Davies explained that his understanding, based on information from U.S.-based legal partners, is that the former finance minister was pursuing lawful options to remain in the country.
“The little I know from our counterpart lawyers in the U.S., limited as it is, is that he put in a petition for an extension of his immigration status,” Davies said. “Contingent upon that, ICE, for whatever reason, picked him up.”
Davies noted that the exact basis for the detention has not yet been fully communicated to the legal team, but he assured the public that efforts are underway to resolve the matter as quickly as possible.
“They are working around the clock to have this matter determined expeditiously,” he said. “In the fullness of time—maybe in the next day or two—we will all get to know what decision has been taken.”
Political and Legal Implications
The detention of Ofori-Atta has sparked intense debate in Ghana, given his prominent role as finance minister under the previous administration and his involvement in several high-profile economic decisions. The case has also drawn attention to the growing collaboration between Ghanaian authorities and international partners in pursuing corruption-related investigations.
Legal analysts note that visa revocation by U.S. authorities is often tied to serious concerns, including ongoing investigations or national interest considerations, rather than simple immigration technicalities. If extradition proceedings advance, the case could mark a significant development in Ghana’s anti-corruption drive.
At the same time, observers caution that immigration detention does not in itself imply guilt, stressing that due process must be followed both in the United States and Ghana.
A Case Under Close Watch
As legal proceedings unfold, the Ofori-Atta case sits at the intersection of international immigration enforcement and domestic accountability efforts. With the Attorney-General confirming active cooperation with U.S. authorities and the defence team pushing for swift resolution, attention is now focused on whether extradition will proceed and how the investigations linked to the SML matter will develop.
For now, the situation remains fluid, with both governments and legal teams navigating complex legal and diplomatic terrain that could have lasting implications for Ghana’s political and legal landscape.
Source: Africa Publicity
