Former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has been taken into custody by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) due to questions about his residency status in the country, as confirmed by his legal team.
A statement regarding the situation indicates that Mr. Ofori-Atta is fully cooperating with ICE while his lawyers work with the authorities to resolve the matter as swiftly as possible.
The statement clarified that Mr. Ofori-Atta has a pending petition for adjustment of status, which is a process under US law that permits an individual to legally stay in the country beyond the expiration of an initial visa.
His legal team mentioned that this is a standard immigration procedure and anticipates a quick resolution to the issue.
This situation arises amid significant health challenges that have kept the former minister in the United States since January 2025.
Mr. Ofori-Atta has been receiving medical treatment after being diagnosed with prostate cancer. Medical sources report that the diagnosis was confirmed in March 2025 following MRI scans and a biopsy that indicated cancer progression.
He underwent a radical prostatectomy on Friday, June 13, at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Doctors described the surgery as a crucial intervention after tests showed an increased spread of cancer cells in the prostate.
Family sources indicate that he had been receiving treatment and closely monitored in the US for several weeks prior to the surgery.
In addition to the cancer diagnosis, Mr. Ofori-Atta has also been dealing with post-COVID Multi-System Inflammatory Response Syndrome, a condition first diagnosed in February 2021, which has necessitated ongoing medical supervision.
Mr. Ofori-Atta served as Ghana’s Finance Minister from 2017 to 2023, managing the economy during a time characterized by the COVID-19 pandemic, debt distress, and negotiations with the International Monetary Fund.
His time in the US has also overlapped with legal issues back in his home country. In November 2025, the Office of the Special Prosecutor accused him and others of corruption and related crimes. The case is now in the case management conference phase.
The statement emphasized that Mr. Ofori-Atta is a law-abiding citizen and is collaborating with US immigration officials to regularize his status while he continues his medical recovery.