Ghana’s High Commissioner to the United States has disclosed that ex-Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta’s Ghanaian nationality is not in doubt after United States immigration authorities confirmed they are in possession of three of his passports.
Victor Smith, speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Monday, said the matter of Ofori-Atta’s nationality is settled, describing it as a “special case” compared to other immigration matters the Ghana mission has handled in recent months.
His comments come amid growing public interest following confirmation that Mr Ofori-Atta has been detained by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) over questions surrounding the status of his stay in the country.
According to a statement from his legal team, the former finance minister is cooperating fully with ICE while efforts are underway to resolve the matter.
The lawyers explained that Mr Ofori-Atta has a pending petition for adjustment of status, a legal process that allows an individual to remain in the United States beyond the validity of an initial visa.
But Victor Smith suggested events could move quickly once the case comes before an immigration judge.
“Well, my information is that on the Jan 20th, he may not be in court himself. It might be done virtually, because the FBI don’t want him to be moved about too much,” he said.
He added that the next step depends entirely on the immigration judge. “Now it will be in front of an immigration judge, and if the immigration judge has no basis to keep him here longer, he will be on the next flight to Ghana. That’s what I know.”
Drawing a contrast with other cases the Ghana High Commission has dealt with, Mr Smith said nationality verification often slows down deportation processes. He explained that many detainees lack documentation.
“Some of the detainees with whom we’ve come into contact had no documents. They were undocumented, so we could not we had to try and prove that they were Ghanaians before they would make that determination to fly them out,” he said.
He noted that in some cases, proceedings stall entirely. “So then sometimes they go to court, and we’re not able to finish that matter, because we cannot prove where they are coming from.”
Ofori-Atta’s case, however, is different.
“But in this particular special case, they have three of his passports, and all of them. So clearly, that is a Ghanaian,” the High Commissioner stated.
Pressed on this point during the interview, Mr Smith confirmed the type of passports in ICE custody. “Yeah. I believe the new type, the biometric type, with a chip embedded. they said they have his three passports, and each one had the same details.”
He said the documents leave no room for doubt. “So they have no reason to believe that he had another nationality.”
Although he could not confirm whether the passports were all valid at the time of seizure, Mr Smith said that the detail does not change the core issue before the immigration judge.
“Well, that was not told to me, but they said three passports, and none of them was any other country but Ghana’s passport. So I take it that the matter is settled. It’s a Ghanaian.”
He stressed that once nationality is clear, the remaining question is immigration status.
“Now, if there is no basis to keep him here longer because his visa is out of status, he doesn’t have a visa to remain in this country, that is the easiest way to take him back to his country,” he said.
Questions have also been raised about whether Mr Ofori-Atta holds citizenship of another country. The High Commissioner said there is no evidence to support that claim.
“I don’t know. Well, initially there was like a suspicion, but there’s no evidence,” he said.
“So far, as far as ice is concerned, you haven’t had any evidence that he has some other passport, or has some other details other than what is in his passport.”
The unfolding case continues to attract attention both in Ghana and abroad, as it tests the intersection of immigration law, diplomatic engagement, and the status of one of Ghana’s most prominent former public officials.
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