U.S. Officially Revoked Ken Ofori-Atta’s Visa – Ghana’s Attorney General, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has publicly clarified the immigration status of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta in the United States.
Specifically, he confirmed that Mr. Ofori-Atta did not simply overstay his visa.
Dr. Ayine says Instead, the U.S. State Department formally revoked his visa in July 2024.
Voluntary Departure Window Followed Visa Revocation
Following this revocation, U.S. authorities granted Mr. Ofori-Atta a period to depart voluntarily. “They gave him up to November 29 of 2024 to leave the United States. He did not,” Dr. Ayine stated during an appearance on JoyNews’ Newsfile. Consequently, the former minister lost his legal immigration status.
Extradition Request and Eventual Detention in the U.S.
This development is directly linked to an extradition request from Ghana. Dr. Ayine emphasized ongoing cooperation with U.S. officials, stating,
“I have been working with the Americans diligently on him.”
Although an initial arrest plan for January 4, 2026, was unsuccessful, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) eventually arrested Mr. Ofori-Atta in Virginia on January 6.
Currently, he is held at the Caroline Detention Facility and is scheduled for a court appearance on January 20, 2026. His Ghanaian legal team has announced he has applied for an adjustment of status.
Attorney General Disputes Simple Immigration Breach Claim
Finally, Dr. Ayine cautioned against viewing this as a routine immigration matter. He stressed that the visa revocation was a deliberate action.
“This is not exactly about immigration. His visa is not expired. It expires in February. No, it was revoked,” he asserted, connecting it to the underlying extradition proceedings related to investigations in Ghana.
The ICE detention listing publicly confirms his custody, while his lawyers maintain the allegations are politically motivated and that his medical travel was legitimate.
The upcoming court date will determine the next phase of this international legal case.
