Former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has been released from detention by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following a judicial order, bringing a new twist to his ongoing legal troubles in the United States and Ghana.
A press statement issued by his solicitors on Wednesday (8 April 2026) confirmed that he was released on April 7 and has since returned home to his family.
“Mr Ofori-Atta was released from ICE detention pursuant to judicial order. He is home with his family,” the statement said.
Mr Ofori-Atta was arrested in January 2026 and held at an ICE facility in Virginia over violations of U.S. immigration law, specifically relating to overstaying his visa. His legal team has maintained that he has a pending application to regularise his status in the United States.
His case has been progressing through the U.S. immigration court system, with hearings scheduled into April as authorities determine his residency status and potential deportation.
Beyond the immigration case, Mr Ofori-Atta remains under investigation in Ghana over multiple allegations, including causing financial loss to the state, abuse of public office, and breaches of procurement laws linked to high-profile transactions during his tenure as Finance Minister.
These developments have placed the former minister at the centre of parallel legal scrutiny in both jurisdictions, although his detention in the United States was triggered by immigration infractions rather than the Ghana-related allegations.
Reaffirming his position, his legal team stated that he “remains fully committed to use due process in defence of his rights as guaranteed under the Constitution and laws of the United States.”
The statement also expressed appreciation for the support he received during his detention.
“He and his family remain thankful to God and all those who have offered prayers and support during this period,” it added.
