Embattled former Minister of Finance Ken Ofori-Atta is set to be arraigned before a United States (US) immigration court on Tuesday, January 19, 2026, for the court to determine whether he should be deported to Ghana or not.
A US-based immigration lawyer, Jonelle Ocloo, has pointed out that Ofori-Atta, who has been detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), is part of the 0.6% of people who have the chance of remaining in the US after detention by ICE.
She explained that the former finance minister has a chance of remaining in the US, particularly because of one of the lawyers he has hired for his defence, John Ashcroft, a former Attorney General of the US.
Ghana’s Attorney General, Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, has even attested that the prowess of John Ashcroft is likely to make the battle to get Ofori-Atta back to Ghana a long one.
But who is John Ashcroft?
John Ashcroft was the Attorney General of the United States from 2001 to 2005 under President George W. Bush and has been praised for playing a key role in implementing the USA Patriot Act and shaping post-9/11 national security policies.
Before becoming the US Attorney General, Ashcroft played key roles in the state of Missouri, where he comes from. He served as the Assistant Attorney General for Missouri from 1975 to 1977. In 1977, he became the Attorney General of Missouri, serving in that capacity until 1984.
He became the Governor of the State of Missouri in 1985, a position he served in until 1992.
Ashcroft, who was a Republican, played key roles in presidential campaigns for the party and Republican governments.
“Mr Ashcroft was the Chairman of the Task Force on Adult Literacy and the Task Force on College Quality of the National Governors Association in 1991. Additionally, he was Chairman of the Republican Governors Association in 1990 and Co-Chairman of the Republican Platform Committee in 1992. Further, he was the President of the National Association of Attorneys General from 1980 to 1981.
“Mr Ashcroft was Vice Chairman of the National Governors Association in 1990 and Chairman from 1991 to 1992, as well as the Chairman of the President’s Committee on Urban Families in 1992,” parts of his profile on the US Department of Justice website read.
Ken Ofori-Atta arrested and detained in the US
Read the full profile below:
John David Ashcroft was born on May 9, 1942 in Chicago, Illinois. He received his degree with honors from Yale in 1964, and he earned his J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School in 1967.
In 1967, Mr. Ashcroft and his wife opened a law practice in Springfield, Missouri. At the same time, he accepted a teaching position at Southwest Missouri State University where he remained until entering politics in 1972, when he became the state auditor for Missouri. He then became the assistant attorney general, serving from 1975-1977. In 1977, he became the attorney general of Missouri, serving in that capacity until 1984. From 1985 to 1992, Mr. Ashcroft was the governor of Missouri. He then returned to private practice at the law firm of Suelthaus and Kaplan P.C. until 1994. In 1995, he was elected an U.S. Senator from Missouri.
Mr. Ashcroft was the Chairman of the Task Force on Adult Literacy, Task Force on College Quality National Governor’s Association in 1991. Additionally, he was chairman of the Republican Governor’s Association in 1990 and co-chairman of the Republican Platform Committee in 1992. Further, he was the president of the National Association of Attorney Generals from 1980 to 1981. Mr. Ashcroft was vice chairman of the National Governors Association in 1990 and chairman from 1991 to 1992 as well as the chairman of the President’s Committee on Urban Families in 1992.
Mr. Ashcroft was the recipient of the Wyman award in 1983 and the National Sheriffs Association award in 1996. Also, he was named Christian Statesman of the Year in 1996. Mr. Ashcroft is author of Lessons from a Father to His Son and co-author of multiple editions of two college law textbooks with his wife.
President Bush announced Mr. Ashcroft as his pick for attorney general on December 22, 2000, and he became the 79th attorney general. His resignation took effect on February 3, 2005, after serving four years as attorney general.
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Meanwhile, watch as Ghanaians respond to Ofori-Atta’s detention
