Former Finance Minister Ofori-Atta disappears from ICE detainee records

The name of Ghana’s former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, has been removed from the detainee records of United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

This development comes after his arrest and detention by ICE on January 6, 2026, when he was listed on the agency’s official website as an “illegal alien,” alongside details such as his nationality, immigration status, and place of detention.

However, checks conducted by Nsem360news on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, showed no trace of his name in the ICE database, indicating that his status may have changed.

Earlier reports suggested that Ofori-Atta had exceeded the duration of his authorised stay in the United States. His lawyers confirmed the arrest in a statement issued on January 7, 2026, linking it to issues surrounding his immigration status.

According to the statement, signed by Justice Kusi-Minkah Premo, ICE detained him in connection with the terms of his stay, but his legal team was engaging the authorities and expected a swift resolution.

The statement also noted that Ofori-Atta is in the process of regularising his stay, with a pending application for adjustment of status, a legal provision that allows individuals to remain in the US beyond their visa period.

It further emphasised that he is cooperating fully with ICE and abiding by the law, while his lawyers work to resolve the matter promptly.

Meanwhile, Ofori-Atta is also under investigation by Ghana’s Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), which has declared him wanted and placed him on an Interpol Red Notice in connection with multiple criminal probes.