Former Minister of Finance Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta has been detained by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the United States of America (USA).
The detention is in relation to Mr Ofori-Atta’s continued stay in the US.
In a public notice issued by his lawyers in Ghana, Minkah-Premo, Osei-Bonsu, Bruce-Cathline and Partners (OBB), on Wednesday, January 7, the former Finance Minister was detained regarding the status of his current stay in the US.
“Mr. Ofori-Atta has a pending petition for adjustment of status, which authorizes a person to stay in the US legally past the period of validity of their visa. Under US law, a change of status by this method is common,” the public notice pointed out.
“The Public is, therefore, advised to note that he is a law-abiding person and is fully cooperating with ICE to have this issue resolved.
“His legal team is in contact with ICE and working to resolve the matter as expeditiously as possible.”
Mr Ofori-Atta has been in the US exactly a year now.
He has been seeking medical care but seems to have healed with the government of Ghana seeking his extradition to face trial for corruption and corruption-related offences.
The trial has to do with a contract signed between the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML) Ghana.