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Former Ghana Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has reportedly been released from the custody of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after months of detention linked to immigration status issues.
According to reports, checks at the Caroline Detention Facility in Virginia confirmed that his name no longer appears on the detention list, indicating that he has been released. Officials at the facility did not provide further details on the terms of his release.
Mr. Ofori-Atta had been in ICE custody since January 2026 over concerns surrounding his legal stay in the United States. His legal team had earlier clarified that the matter was administrative and related to immigration status rather than any criminal offence.
Despite his release, he remains entangled in several legal and political issues back in Ghana. Reports indicate that he and five others are facing more than 70 charges connected to alleged corruption-related matters, including the Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML) contract case, which is said to have caused significant financial loss to the state.
The Government of Ghana had also submitted an extradition request to the United States earlier this year seeking his return. U.S. authorities acknowledged receipt of that request.
He is still expected to appear before the Annandale Immigration Court in Virginia on April 27, 2026, as proceedings regarding his immigration status continue.
The case continues to attract attention both in Ghana and internationally because of its legal, diplomatic, and political implications.
