Former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta is scheduled to appear before a court in the United States on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, in connection with alleged breaches of U.S. immigration regulations.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has stated that Mr Ofori-Atta remained in the country beyond the permitted period of his visitor visa, resulting in the loss of his legal immigration status. The outcome of the court hearing could pave the way for a decision on his possible extradition to Ghana.
However, Ghana’s Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, has dismissed suggestions that the issue is a routine case of visa overstay, maintaining that Mr Ofori-Atta’s visa was officially revoked by U.S. authorities.
Speaking on Newsfile on Saturday, January 10, Dr Ayine revealed that U.S. officials had initially allowed Mr Ofori-Atta to remain in the country until November 29, 2025, but he failed to depart within the stipulated period.
He emphasised that the revocation of the visa was intentional and tied to ongoing investigations, rather than a standard immigration infraction.
“This is not simply an immigration issue. His visa did not expire. It was revoked, even though it was valid until February. I am stating this on authority,” Dr Ayine asserted.
According to the Attorney-General, Ghana’s request for extradition is linked to investigations being carried out by the Office of the Special Prosecutor concerning the SML case.
“I have been working closely with U.S. authorities on this matter. The visa was revoked, which is why he lost his immigration status in the United States,” he added.
In a related development, former Chief Executive Officer of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre, Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu, is also expected to appear before a U.S. court on January 21, 2026, for proceedings to assess her potential extradition to Ghana.
