US Immigration arrest and detain ex-Ghana finance minister wey dey face corruption charges

Di US immigration and customs enforcement (ICE) don arrest and detain ex-Ghana finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta ova im residence status for di kontri.

Di enforcement team detain di ex-minister on Tuesday for di Caroline Detention facility for Virginia.

ICE put for dia website say dem dey hold di former Ghana minister for custody.

E neva dey clear if im detention dey connected to di Ghana govment extradition process for di ex-minister wey dey face 78 corruption and related charges, but tori be say dis one dey relate to immigration wahala.

Lawyers for di ex-finance minister for Ghana inside dia statement say "his US legal team dey in contact wit ICE wey dem expect to address di mata quick quick."

"Oga Ofori-Atta get pending petition for adjustment of status wey go allow pesin to stay for di US legally past di period of validity of dia visa," di statement wey Justice Kusi-Minkah Premo don sign explain.

Dem add say "under US law, dis kain arrangement wey dey allow pipo to petition for adjustment dey common."

"Oga Ken Ofori-Atta be law-abiding pesin wey he dey fully cooperate wit ICE to deal wit dis mata," di statement from his lawyers add.

Wetin be adjustment of status wey Ken Ofori-Atta lawyers say he file petition for?

According to di ICE website, adjustment of status be di process when pesin go apply to become lawful, permanent resident for di US.

Dis mean say di ex-finance minister don apply for permanent residency status for di US at a time when authorities for Ghana dey pursue am to face prosecution for di kontri.

But e get few ways wey dis adjustment of status dey work.

For pipo wey dey face removal proceedings, most of dem dey apply through family members; dis fit hapun if your family member wey apply na US citizen or also be lawful permanent resident, wey di visa dey available to you.

ICE say most pipo dey apply for adjustment of status through di US citizenship and immigration services (USCIS) – di federal agency wey dey process immigration applications.

But if ICE don put you for deportation proceedings, you gatz to apply for adjustment of status for immigration court bifor a judge.

ICE add say adjustment of status cases fit dey complicated, especially when pesin dey detained.

Ghana govment extradition request for Ken Ofori-Atta

Even though e neva dey clear at dis point if di arrest and detention of Ken Ofori-Atta dey in connection wit di extradition request by Ghana govment, sabi pipo say di charges against di minister no fit dey overlooked for dis mata.

On 18 December, Ghana attorney general and minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine confam say im office don formally send extradition request for di ex-finance minister and im alleged accomplice – one Ernest Akore (Ken chief of staff when im dey office as finance minister), to di US.

Im confam say dem begin di process on 19 November 2025 when dem submit di request for commencement of extradition proceedings against di two pipo.

Dr Ayine add during dat press conference say dem submit di request to di department of justice for America wey he add say di decision now dey for di hands of American authorities.

"At dis point, na di US authorities especially di judicial authorities wey go determine whether sufficient evidence dey wey go demand say make di two accused pipo – di ex-finance minister and im chief of staff, dey extradited to Ghana to stand trial."

According to di special prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng, di ex-minister and oda accused pipo conspire to set up "criminal enterprise wey directly and indirectly influence di kontri procurement process to win contracts for di company (SML)."

"Di SML company carry unfair advantage to get transaction audit services, external price verification services, measurement audit for downstream petroleum products and odas form di Ghana govment through di finance ministry and di Ghana revenue authority."

Kissi Agyebeng di special prosecutor tok say "dem begin di criminal enterprise for 2017 by di ex-finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta, Emmanuel Kofi Nti (ex-GRA commissioner) and Evans Adusei togeda wit di SML company itself."

Di prosecutor say dem neva ensure value for money for di contracts dem carry give di SML company wey dem cause financial loss of Ghc 1.4bn ($128m).

Ghana president John Mahama afta he order investigation for dis mata, direct di finance ministry to cancel dis contract wit SML on 31 October 2025.

According to di prosecutor, if di president no cancel di contract at di time e do am, directors of di company tok say make di kontri pay dem Ghc $2.8bn for five years without parliamentary approval.

Sake of dis tins, dem charge di suspects wit 78 counts.

Lawyers for di underfire ex-minister bin say dia client dey di US dey seek medical attention wey he go make available to face accountability if he make fit.

Dem maintain say di minister no do anytin wrong during im time in office.

But di prosecutor office no gree to dis excuse as dem accuse di ex-minister say im dey run away from justice in respect of his tenure as finance minister for di kontri for seven years.