Story By: Juliet Akosua Danquah
Former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, is expected to return to Ghana sooner than many anticipated, following the confirmed revocation of his United States visa.
This development corrects widespread earlier speculation that his travel authorisation had simply expired.
The Deputy Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Justice Srem-Sai, stated that his ministry was “keenly involved” and was collaborating closely with relevant law enforcement agencies on the matter.
He clarified that the involvement of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was not random, stressing the agency acts only on specific immigration issues.
“ICE will not come for you unless you have visa issues. That is what has happened,” he explained. The Deputy Attorney-General confirmed that Mr. Ofori-Atta’s U.S. visa was officially revoked in June 2025.
Meanwhile the Embassy of Ghana in Washington, DC, has confirmed that Mr. Ofori-Atta, was currently being held by the ICE.
According to a press release issued by Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, Victor Emmanuel Smith, on Saturday, January 10, 2026, the Embassy received information about Mr. Ofori-Atta’s detention and promptly verified the circumstances.
Upon confirmation, the Embassy contacted the relevant detention facility to request access to him and offer consular assistance, as per diplomatic and international protocols. However, officials at the facility disclosed that Mr. Ofori-Atta declined to meet with consular officers, stating he would only engage with them in the presence of his lawyers.
“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 fully respected,” the statement said.
