By: Ebenezer Adu-Gyamfi / Emmanuel Ayiku for GhanaianNewsCanada 20/1/2026
Former Ghanaian Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has approached his U.S. immigration court hearing with confidence and calm, according to his legal team, as proceedings into his immigration status began on January 20, 2026.
Speaking ahead of the hearing, Ofori-Atta’s lawyer, Frank Davies, said the former minister was in good spirits and fully prepared for the process. He described the hearing as a routine immigration matter, stressing that it should not be confused with any criminal or extradition proceedings.
The hearing, which was conducted virtually, focused on Ofori-Atta’s adjustment of immigration status in the United States. His lawyers explained that the case relates to administrative immigration issues following the revocation of his visitor visa, and not to the corruption charges he is facing in Ghana.
Ofori-Atta is currently being held at the Caroline Detention Facility in Virginia, where he joined the court session remotely. His legal team maintains that he is lawfully pursuing options available under U.S. immigration law to regularize his stay while the matter is reviewed.
Counsel for the former finance minister was emphatic that the hearing has no direct link to extradition. Any request by Ghanaian authorities for Ofori-Atta’s return, they noted, would be handled separately and only after immigration issues are resolved.
The case has attracted significant public attention in Ghana, where Ofori-Atta is wanted by the Office of the Special Prosecutor over multiple allegations of corruption during his tenure in office. Civil society groups have staged protests calling for his immediate return to Ghana to face justice.
Despite the growing public pressure, Ofori-Atta’s lawyers insist the current proceedings are purely procedural and expressed optimism about the outcome. The court is expected to issue further directions on the next steps in the immigration process in the coming days.
