Economic Adviser to the Vice President, Sharif Mahamud Khalid, has cautioned that the continued stay of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta outside Ghana could further intensify public debate around his situation, even if it has no direct bearing on any legal outcome.

Mr Ofori-Atta has been detained by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) over questions surrounding the status of his stay in the country, according to a statement issued by his legal team.

The lawyers confirmed that the former minister is cooperating fully with ICE while engagements are ongoing to resolve the matter as quickly as possible.

The statement explained that Mr Ofori-Atta has a pending petition for adjustment of status, a process under U.S. immigration law that allows an individual to remain legally in the country beyond the validity of an initial visa while the application is under consideration.

His legal team described the process as a common immigration procedure and expressed confidence that the issue would be resolved expeditiously.

Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, January 10, Mr Khalid urged the public to exercise restraint, noting that situations are often more complex than they appear at first glance.

“Things are not always the way they are, and how we react to them can be very different,” he said, cautioning against drawing conclusions based on prima facie or circulating information.

The Associate Professor of Accounting and Finance stressed that he would not suggest that Mr Ofori-Atta had brought the situation upon himself, observing that mistakes can occur in public office.

“Sometimes errors happen in public office, so I would wait for a competent court of jurisdiction to pass that verdict on Ken Ofori-Atta,” Mr Khalid said.

Reflecting on the former finance minister’s career, Mr Khalid highlighted Mr Ofori-Atta’s prominence on the global stage prior to leaving office.

“This is someone who has been to IMF annual conferences, dined with the high and mighty, met presidents, and attended African Development Bank and Exim Bank conferences,” he said. “You rub shoulders with the crème de la crème.”

He described the former minister’s current predicament, less than a year after leaving office, as unfortunate and difficult for anyone to endure.

However, Mr Khalid warned that the longer Mr Ofori-Atta remains abroad and out of the public eye, the more the situation could escalate in the arena of public perception.

“I was thinking that the more he stays out, the more he aggravates his situation—not in the court of law, but in the court of public opinion,” he noted.

While acknowledging that public opinion does not determine legal outcomes, Mr Khalid emphasised its powerful social and psychological impact.

“The court of public opinion may not have any weight in terms of determining your case, but socially, it has a psychological element in the impact it has on your reputation,” he added.