Ken Ofori-Atta, the former Ghanaian finance minister who has been a fugitive from his country’s justice system since February last year, has been taken into custody by US immigration authorities, his legal team revealed.
Ofori-Atta, who has been in the US since December 2024 seeking medical treatment, faces 78 counts of corruption and corruption-related offences in Ghana, and the country’s Attorney-General has formally requested his extradition.
Lawyers from Menka-Premo, Osei-Bonsu, Bruce-Cathline and Partners said in a statement that Ofori-Atta “has a pending petition for adjustment of status, which authorizes a person to stay in the US legally past the period of validity of their visa. His US legal team is in contact with ICE and expects the matter to be resolved expeditiously.”
Data from ICE’s online detainee locator indicated on Wednesday that the former minister is being held at the Caroline Detention Centre in Virginia.
Ofori-Atta served as finance minister between 2017 and 2024 under the former president Nana Akufo-Addo.
Ofori-Atta and seven others are accused of engaging in a scheme to secure procurement contracts for Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Ltd improperly, resulting in alleged financial losses exceeding GH¢1.4 billion ($128 million). The charges include conspiracy to influence the procurement process for personal gain and abuse of public office.
Other defendants include Ernest Darko Akore, Emmanuel Kofi Nti, Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, Isaac Crentsil, Kwadwo Damoah, and Evans Adusei, chief executive of SML.
The Special Prosecutor in Ghana, Kissi Agyebeng, has insisted that Ofori-Atta must appear in person, rejecting requests from his legal team for virtual participation on medical grounds.
“We will not countenance this conduct, not in this case,” Agyebeng said, stressing the government’s commitment to accountability under the Operation Recover All Loot initiative.
Frank Davies, a member of his legal team, told local media that medical records had been submitted “in good faith” but were ignored by the Special Prosecutor. “The special prosecutor is not being sensitive to the issues at hand, especially knowing that Mr Ofori-Atta is unwell and receiving treatment,” he said