KEY POINTS
- Ken Ofori-Atta detained by ICE over immigration questions.
- He has a pending adjustment-of-status petition under US law.
- Ofori-Atta continues medical treatment for prostate cancer.
Former Ghanaian Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has been detained by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) over questions regarding his legal stay in the country, his legal team confirmed.
A statement from his lawyers said Ofori-Atta is cooperating fully with ICE while authorities review his pending petition for adjustment of status, a standard immigration process that allows individuals to remain legally in the US beyond the validity of an initial visa. His legal team described the matter as routine and expects a prompt resolution.
Ken Ofori-Atta detained amid legal process
Ofori-Atta has been in the United States since January 2025 due to serious health issues, including prostate cancer. He was diagnosed in March 2025 after MRI scans and a biopsy indicated progression of the disease, and underwent a radical prostatectomy on June 13 at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Doctors said that the procedure was a very important way to get rid of cancer cells.
Ofori-Atta has also been dealing with post-COVID Multi-System Inflammatory Response Syndrome, which was diagnosed in February 2021 and needs continuous medical care. During his time in the US, he has been getting medical care and dealing with his immigration situation.
The law and politics in Ghana
Ofori-Atta was Ghana’s Finance Minister from 2017 to 2023. He guided the economy through the COVID-19 pandemic, debt problems, and talks with the IMF. While he was away, he also had legal problems in Ghana. In November 2025, the Office of the Special Prosecutor prosecuted him and others with crimes relating to corruption.
His legal team emphasised that Ofori-Atta remains law-abiding and is working with US authorities to regularise his status while continuing his medical recovery. They said the situation does not affect his ongoing treatment or cooperation with both US and Ghanaian authorities.
