The US court hearing former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta’s immigration status has barred the public from hearing the case.

It follows a request by one of Ken Ofori-Atta’s lawyers that there are sensitive issues surrounding the case.

A few minutes after the case was called, the judge asked Christopher Chaisson, one of the lawyers for Ken Ofori-Atta, to confirm if he wanted the public barred from the hearing, to which he responded positively and thanked the judge for bringing the issue up.

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) authorities arrested Ken Ofori-Atta about a fortnight ago on the grounds that he is in the country illegally.

They want Ken extradited to Ghana, where two state institutions – the Office of the Special Prosecutor and the Attorney General’s office – are seeking his prosecution for alleged malfeasance.

Below is MyJoyOnline's own transcription of the court proceedings and does not in any way represent official court documents.

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In court

Christopher Chaisson: “Yes, your honour. Christopher Chaisson from Whiteford Taylor & Preston for respondent, Kenneth Ofori-Atta.

Judge David Gardey: And do you see the respondent in the Farmville Webex?

Christopher Chaisson: This time, your honour, I do not. No, he is not in the Farmville Webex. 720 is detained in the Carolina Detention Facility.

Judge David Gardey: Okay.

Christopher Chaisson: I would also like to make an appearance against Kwao Amagashi for 720, co-counsel.

Judge David Gardey: Who are you, sir?

Kwao Amagashi: Co-counsel for 720, your honour. Kwao Amagashi.

Judge David Gardey: Kwao Amagashi. What's your position?

Kwao Amagashi: I'm co-counsel to counsel, Chris. Yes, your honour.

Judge David Gardey: Mr. Chaisson, is that correct?

Christopher Chaisson: That is correct. Mr. Amagashi is Mr. Ofori-Atta's long-time immigration lawyer

Judge David Gardey: Okay. Do you see the Caroline Detention Center? Mr. Chaisson, do you see the Caroline Detention Center?

Christopher Chaisson: We do not currently see it, your honour.

Judge David Gardey: All right. We're gonna go on the record so that we can solve some of it. All right. We're on the record. Today is January 20th, 2026. This is Immigration Judge David Gardey in the Annandale Immigration Court. This is a bond redetermination hearing in the matter of Kenneth Ofori Atta, 236-249-720. The respondent is detained at the Caroline Detention Center and is appearing via Webex and is represented by counsel. Would the attorneys in the case please enter their appearances?

Christopher Chaisson on behalf of Anaya Kasimi and Kwao Amagashi, on behalf of the respondent.

Judge David Gardey: Kwao Amagashi and Mr. Chaisson, given that the nature of the issues that we discussed during the bond hearing, are you requesting that the bond hearing be closed?

Christopher Chaisson: Yes, your honour. I'm glad you raised that. I was going to raise it.

Judge David Gardey: All right.

Christopher Chaisson: And for the record, I was just, if I may, your honour. So the other issue is there's also a master calendar hearing and I believe that certain, given the nature of the issues, that sensitive subjects will be raised during the master calendar hearing.

Judge David Gardey: Are you also requesting that the master calendar hearing be closed to the public?

Christopher Chaisson: Yes. And one clarification, your honour, we would like both hearings to be closed to the public. However, with respect to the bond hearing, we would like to have that held as soon as humanly possible to conclude today. I defer to the court on how to make that happen.

Judge David Gardey: I understand. I understand. So all those, all the individuals who are in the Webex, the matter is going to be held as a private hearing under United States immigration law. If either party requests that a hearing be closed to the public, under the circumstances, the court is going to close this hearing.

So if anyone in the Webex who was here to view this hearing, either the bond hearing or the master calendar hearing, you should leave the hearing now because we cannot proceed until you have left the Webex and no one other than the parties will be allowed to be present during the hearing.

You can listen to the proceedings in the audio below.