The Embassy of Ghana in Washington, DC, has confirmed that Ghana’s former Minister for Finance, Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta, is currently in the custody of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

In a statement issued on Saturday, January 10 and signed by Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, Victor Emmanuel Smith, the Embassy said it received official information indicating that Mr. Ofori-Atta had been taken into custody by ICE authorities in the United States, prompting immediate steps to verify the circumstances surrounding the detention.

Following confirmation, the Embassy said it formally contacted the relevant detention facility to request access to Mr. Ofori-Atta in order to offer consular assistance, in line with established diplomatic and international protocols.

However, the Embassy noted that officials at the detention facility informed them that Mr. Ofori-Atta declined to engage with consular officials at the time, indicating that he did not wish to do so without the presence of his lawyers.

“The Embassy of Ghana remains in contact with the appropriate United States authorities and will continue to follow the matter closely to ensure that Mr. Ofori-Atta’s rights are totally respected,” the statement said.