Former Ghanaian Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, has been detained by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) amid inquiries regarding the legality of his stay in the country, his legal representatives have confirmed.
In an official statement, Mr. Ofori-Atta’s team indicated that he is fully cooperating with ICE while his lawyers engage authorities to ensure a swift resolution to the matter.
The statement further clarified that Mr. Ofori-Atta has a pending petition for adjustment of status, a legal process in the United States that permits an individual to remain lawfully in the country beyond the validity of their initial visa. His legal counsel described this as a standard immigration procedure and expressed confidence that the situation will be resolved expeditiously.
This development occurs against the backdrop of serious health challenges that have necessitated Mr. Ofori-Atta’s extended stay in the United States since January 2025.
The former minister has been receiving specialized medical care following a prostate cancer diagnosis. According to medical sources, the condition was confirmed in March 2025 through MRI scans and biopsy results indicating signs of cancer progression. He subsequently underwent a radical prostatectomy on Friday, June 13, at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Physicians characterized the surgery as a critical intervention after tests revealed increased cancer cell activity within the prostate.
Family sources report that Mr. Ofori-Atta had been under close medical supervision and treatment in the United States for several weeks preceding the procedure.
In addition to managing prostate cancer, Mr. Ofori-Atta continues to address a post-COVID Multi-System Inflammatory Response Syndrome, a condition first diagnosed in February 2021, which requires ongoing clinical oversight.
Mr. Ofori-Atta held the office of Ghana’s Finance Minister from 2017 to 2023, navigating the nation’s economy through the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, debt distress, and critical negotiations with the International Monetary Fund.
His residence in the United States also coincides with ongoing legal proceedings in Ghana. In November 2025, the Office of the Special Prosecutor charged him and several others with corruption-related offenses. The matter is currently at the case management conference stage.
The statement emphasized that Mr. Ofori-Atta remains a law-abiding citizen, committed to regularizing his status with U.S. immigration authorities while prioritizing his continued medical recovery.