The Ghanaian Ambassador to the United States, Victor Emmanuel Smith, has revealed that detained former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta declined to meet with consular officials without the presence of his lawyers.
In a press release issued by the Embassy of Ghana in Washington, DC, on January 10, 2026, the embassy confirmed that Mr. Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta, who served as Ghana’s Minister for Finance from 2017 to 2024, is currently in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The statement explained that upon learning of the detention, the embassy took immediate steps to verify the situation. After confirmation, officials contacted the relevant detention facility to request access and provide consular assistance, in accordance with diplomatic and international protocols.
However, the facility informed the embassy that Mr. Ofori-Atta had chosen not to engage with consular representatives at that time, insisting on having his legal counsel present.
“The Embassy of Ghana remains in contact with the appropriate United States authorities and will continue to follow the matter closely to ensure that Mr. Ofori-Atta’s rights are totally respected,” the release stated.
Ofori-Atta served as Finance Minister from 2017 to 2024 under President Nana Akufo-Addo and left Ghana in early 2025 for medical treatment, including surgery for prostate cancer. He was declared wanted by the Office of the Special Prosecutor in February 2025 on corruption charges related to the SML Deal, the National Cathedral project, and other matters, facing 78 counts alongside co-accused individuals.
According to the Attorney General’s Office, Ken Ofori-Atta’s arrest is in connection with his US visa which had been revoked in late 2025.
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Meanwhile, Ghana’s Attorney General Dr. Dominic Ayine has disclosed that he personally gave assurances to former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft that ex–Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta would be granted a fair trial if returned to Ghana.
Speaking on Joy News’ ‘Newsfile’, Dr. Dominic Ayine explained that the assurance formed part of high-level legal engagements surrounding efforts to have Mr. Ofori-Atta repatriated from the United States.
According to him, Mr. Ashcroft, who is leading Ofori-Atta’s legal defence in the U.S., reached out directly to seek guarantees that his client’s constitutional rights would be fully protected under Ghana’s legal system.
“I assured him that under this government, and in line with Article 19 of the Constitution, his right to a fair trial is guaranteed,” Dr. Ayine stated.
He stressed that due process would be strictly observed and that Mr. Ofori-Atta would not be subjected to any form of unfair treatment.
Dr. Ayine also shed light on the complex legal challenges Ghana faces in its attempt to secure the former minister’s return. He noted that Mr. Ofori-Atta is expected to appear before a U.S. immigration judge and is entitled to exhaust all available appeal processes, potentially extending to the U.S. Supreme Court.
“If he chooses not to self-deport, that is the process we must go through,” the Attorney General explained, describing the situation as part of the broader pursuit of probity and accountability.
He added that a formal extradition request would follow a similarly lengthy path, involving hearings in U.S. district courts and possible appeals at higher judicial levels.
Dr. Ayine clarified that his earlier mention of Ofori-Atta’s “top lawyers” was intentionally vague, as discussions with Mr. Ashcroft and two other attorneys were confidential at the time.
Dismissing claims that the former minister’s high-powered legal team posed any intimidation, he remarked, “I’m not afraid of them.”
The matter remains ongoing, with keen attention now focused on the January 20 immigration hearing in the United States