Government signals imminent return of Ken Ofori-Atta from US

The government has indicated that former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta could soon be repatriated from the United States, as legal and administrative processes surrounding his detention gather momentum.

The Deputy Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dr Justice Srem-Sai, provided an update on the matter, suggesting that arrangements for the former minister’s return to Ghana are progressing rapidly following his arrest by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) earlier this week.

Speaking on TV3 on Saturday, January 10, Dr Srem-Sai said Mr Ofori-Atta’s stay in the United States was effectively over, stressing that the Ministry of Justice and the Attorney-General’s Department are actively engaged in the process.

“Ofori-Atta could be back in Ghana sooner than expected,” he stated, underscoring the government’s hands-on involvement in the case.

The Deputy Attorney-General also clarified reports surrounding the former minister’s immigration status. Contrary to earlier claims that his visa had expired, Dr Srem-Sai disclosed that U.S. authorities revoked Mr Ofori-Atta’s visa as far back as June 2025, a position earlier confirmed by Attorney-General Dr Dominic Ayine on Joy FM’s Newsfile.

He explained that the distinction between visa expiration and revocation is legally significant, noting that revocation is an active decision often linked to concerns raised by authorities, unlike expiration, which is automatic.

“In June 2025, his visa was revoked; it’s not an expiration,” Dr Srem-Sai said. “So he has been living in America without a visa.”

He added that ICE’s action followed naturally from this status, explaining that immigration enforcement typically intervenes only where visa violations exist.

Dr Srem-Sai further emphasised that the government is closely collaborating with international law enforcement agencies in the matter.

Mr Ofori-Atta’s possible return comes as the Office of the Special Prosecutor and the Attorney-General prepare to pursue high-profile prosecutions linked to the Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML) deal and the National Cathedral project.

Although the former minister travelled to the U.S. for medical treatment, his legal team is reportedly seeking to block his immediate removal, citing a pending petition for adjustment of status. However, the Deputy Attorney-General’s disclosure of an earlier visa revocation suggests that U.S. authorities may have already taken a definitive position on his immigration status.