Oliver Barker-Vormawor, a private legal practitioner and anti-corruption campaigner, has clarified that the reported detention of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta in the United States has nothing to do with Ghana’s extradition processes but rather relates to immigration issues.
In a post on X, Barker-Vormawor said Mr Ofori-Atta was not arrested following any extradition request from Ghanaian authorities.
Ken Ofori-Atta was not arrested over our extradition request. He was arrested for overstaying his visa.
He is liable to being deported. Not extradited.
— Osagyefo Oliver Barker-Vormawor (@barkervogues) January 8, 2026
“Ken Ofori-Atta was not arrested over our extradition request. He was arrested for overstaying his visa. He is liable to being deported. Not extradited,” he wrote.
His comments follow reports that the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had detained the former Finance Minister. According to a statement from his lawyers, Minkah-Premo, Osei-Bonsu, Bruce-Cathline and Partners (MPOBB), the detention was linked to the status of his stay in the US.
The legal team explained that Mr Ofori-Atta has a pending petition for adjustment of status, which under US law allows an individual to remain legally in the country beyond the expiration of their visa while their application is being processed.
“His US legal team is in contact with ICE and expects the matter to be resolved expeditiously,” the statement said.
They further assured the public that the former Finance Minister is cooperating fully with US authorities.
“The public is, therefore, advised to note that he is a law-abiding person and is fully cooperating with ICE to have this issue resolved,” the statement added.
Mr Ofori-Atta’s legal troubles come amid serious corruption-related charges in Ghana. The former Finance Minister, together with seven others, is facing 78 charges over contracts awarded to Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML).
According to the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), the accused persons allegedly conspired to unlawfully influence procurement processes to give SML an unfair advantage in securing contracts for transaction audits, external price verification, and petroleum and mineral audit services on behalf of the government.
The OSP says the alleged criminal enterprise began in 2017.
Mr Ofori-Atta has been in the United States since January 2025, which he says was for medical treatment. He has also been placed on an Interpol red notice by the OSP, which accuses him of using public office for profit — a move he is currently challenging in court.
Barker-Vormawor’s clarification appears aimed at addressing public speculation that the former minister’s detention was connected to Ghana’s legal processes, stressing instead that it is an immigration matter under US law.
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