Deputy Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Justice Srem-Sai, says former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta may return to Ghana sooner than anticipated, following new developments surrounding his immigration challenges in the United States.
Speaking on TV3’s Key Points on Saturday, January 10, he revealed that his ministry is fully engaged in the matter and is collaborating closely with relevant US law enforcement bodies.
“We are keenly involved in this matter. We collaborate with law enforcement agencies,” he noted.
Justice Srem-Sai stressed that the involvement of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was not arbitrary, explaining that ICE typically intervenes only when there are clear immigration or visa violations.
“ICE will not come for you unless you have visa issues. That is what has happened,” he said.
He further clarified that Mr Ofori-Atta’s US visa was revoked—not expired—in June 2025, contrary to earlier speculation.
“June 2025, his visa was revoked; it’s not an expiration. The information we have is that his visa was revoked. So he has been living in America without a visa,” he stated.
His remarks reinforce earlier disclosures by Attorney-General Dr Dominic Ayine, who indicated that the visa revocation was deliberate and tied to ongoing investigations rather than routine immigration procedures.
Dr Ayine previously revealed that US authorities had instructed Mr Ofori-Atta to leave the country by November 29, 2024, but he did not comply. He added that US officials planned to arrest him on January 4, 2026, though he was eventually detained on January 6 in Virginia.
The Attorney-General also confirmed that Ghana’s extradition request is linked to investigations by the Office of the Special Prosecutor into the SML matter, with Ghanaian and US authorities maintaining close cooperation.
Meanwhile, Mr Ofori-Atta’s legal team says efforts are underway in the US to resolve his immigration status. His lawyer, Frank Davies, disclosed that a petition had been filed to extend his client’s stay, but ICE proceeded with the arrest regardless.
Mr Ofori-Atta is currently being held at the Caroline Detention Facility as legal processes continue.
—CitiNewsRoom
