Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, says he is hopeful that former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta will return to Ghana, noting that the U.S. Justice Department is actively working on an extradition request.
Speaking to JoyNews on the sidelines of an interview, Mr Ayine said he has been closely monitoring the former minister’s U.S. immigration case and has received confidential briefings on the matter.
“I monitored the hearing yesterday,and I have had reports from the United States regarding what has happened and what may happen, but these are confidential discussions,” he said. “The Justice Department is working on the extradition request. I am very hopeful.”
The comments come after Ofori-Atta appeared before Immigration Judge David A. Gardey at a U.S. court in Virginia on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, facing allegations that he no longer has lawful status to remain in the country following the revocation of his visitor visa. The hearing focused primarily on his bail application.
The court adjourned the proceedings after U.S. state attorneys opposed the bail application, arguing that Ghana has allegedly submitted an extradition request.
Judge Gardey declined to make an immediate ruling, citing a lack of documentary evidence, and directed the federal government to submit proof of any extradition request on or before February 19, 2026.
Ayine explained that the ongoing U.S. proceedings are distinct from the extradition process. “What is happening now is in relation to immigration law violations. That is separate and distinct from the extradition request. The Justice Department would have to formally file that before the immigration judge,” he said.
Ofori-Atta, who served as Ghana’s Finance Minister from 2017 to 2023, has been in ICE custody since January 6, 2026, following the detention by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). His legal team had requested the closed-door hearing, which focused on a bond redetermination.
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