Ken Ofori-Atta, Ghana’s former finance minister, has been detained by U.S. authorities, his lawyer confirmed Wednesday. Ofori-Atta, 66, is in the United States for medical treatment but faces corruption allegations in Ghana, where he was declared a fugitive in February 2025 and formally charged in November 2025. His lawyer said the detention relates to the status of his current stay in the U.S. and expressed hope that the matter will be resolved quickly. According to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) database, Ofori-Atta is being held in a facility in Virginia.
Ofori-Atta served as finance minister from 2017 to 2024 under former President Nana Akufo-Addo, during which time he oversaw tax reforms and negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), some of which were controversial and sparked public debate.
