Ofori-Atta Turns Down Embassy Visit Unless Lawyers Are Present
By: Adwoa Nyarko Asiamah | 11 January 2025
Ghana’s former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, has declined to speak with officials from the Ghana Embassy in Washington, DC, unless his legal team is present, the embassy has confirmed.
Ofori-Atta is currently being held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following his arrest earlier this week.
In a statement issued on January 10, 2026, Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, Victor Emmanuel Smith, said embassy officials moved quickly to engage U.S. authorities after learning of the former minister’s detention.
The embassy explained that its intention was to offer standard consular support, including welfare checks and legal guidance, as required under international diplomatic practice. However, officials at the detention facility informed the embassy that Ofori-Atta was unwilling to meet consular staff without his lawyers in attendance.
The former finance minister was taken into ICE custody on January 6, 2026, though details surrounding the circumstances of his arrest have not been publicly disclosed by U.S. authorities.
Ofori-Atta is facing multiple investigations in Ghana led by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP). The anti-graft body recently declared him wanted and secured an Interpol Red Notice, making him subject to arrest across international borders.
The Ghana Embassy says it remains in contact with relevant U.S. institutions and is monitoring the situation as legal processes unfold.
