The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has disclosed that former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta did not simply overstay his visa in the United States; rather, it was officially revoked.
On Saturday, January 10, Dr. Ayine stated that US authorities had initially granted Ofori-Atta until November 29, 2024, to exit the country, but he did not adhere to this directive. He emphasised that the revocation was intentional, linked to ongoing investigations, and not a standard immigration issue.
“This situation is not solely about immigration. His visa has not expired; it is set to expire in February. No, it was revoked. I am conveying this information with authority,” Dr. Ayine remarked.
He further elaborated that US authorities had originally intended to arrest Ofori-Atta on January 4, 2026, but this arrest did not occur. He was ultimately apprehended on January 6 in the Virginia area and taken into custody.
According to Dr. Ayine, the extradition request submitted to the US is associated with investigations concerning the Office of the Special Prosecutor’s SML matter.
“I have been collaborating diligently with the Americans regarding him. The visa was revoked, which is why he lost his immigration status in the United States,” he stated.
In the meantime, Frank Davies, the attorney representing Ofori-Atta, mentioned that his legal team in the US is striving to resolve the immigration case promptly. In a conversation with Citi Eyewitness News on January 8, Davies noted that Ofori-Atta had submitted a petition to extend his US immigration status.
Despite this petition, he was taken into custody by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and is presently held at the Caroline Detention Facility.
“The limited information I have received from our counterpart lawyers in the US indicates that he has filed a petition for an extension of his immigration status, and based on that, ICE, for reasons unknown, detained him,” Davies explained.
He added that the rationale behind the detention remains ambiguous, but assured that the legal team is working tirelessly to address the situation.
“They are working to have this matter determined expeditiously. In the fullness of time, maybe in the next day or two, we will all get to know what decision has been taken,” he said.
The case has drawn national attention, highlighting the intersection of US immigration enforcement and Ghana’s ongoing investigations into Ofori-Atta’s activities.
