Embattled former Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta has been arrested and detained by US ICE
Lawyers of embattled former Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, in a public notice issued on January 7, 2026, announced that their client had been detained by the United States (US) Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) “regarding the status of his current stay in the United States.”
GhanaWeb can confirm that the former finance minister, who is a suspect in a number of corruption-related investigations by Ghana’s Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), has been detained by ICE.
A search of the official website of the Department of Homeland Security showed that “Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta” was “in ICE custody”.
Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta is the full name of the embattled former finance minister, who has been declared a fugitive by the OSP and placed on an Interpol Red Alert.
He is being kept at the Caroline Detention Facility, which is located at 11093 SW Lewis Memorial Drive, Bowling Green, VA 22427.
More details of the facility show that detainees are not allowed to receive calls from the general public.
The details also showed that detainees can only be released after a successful application is filed directly with an immigration court.
The OSP has slapped Ofori-Atta and seven others with 78 counts of corruption and corruption-related offences.
OSP formally charges Ken Ofori-Atta, seven others with 78 counts
Below are the cases the OSP has charged Ofori-Atta with:
Contractual arrangements between Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited and the Ghana Revenue Authority, aimed at enhancing revenue assurance in the downstream petroleum sector, upstream petroleum production, and the minerals and metals resources value chain.
Termination of a contract between the Electricity Company of Ghana Limited and Beijing Xiao Cheng Technology (BXC) for the Distribution, Loss Reduction, and Associated Network Improvement Project.
Procurement of contractors, materials, and payments related to the National Cathedral project.
Activities and payments associated with a contract awarded by the Ministry of Health (initially commenced by the Ministry for Special Development Initiatives) to Service Ghana Auto Group Limited for the purchase and after-sales service and maintenance of 307 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 305 CDI ambulances for the National Ambulance Service.
Payments and utilisation of funds from the Tax Refund Account of the Ghana Revenue Authority.
BAI
