Washington: The Embassy of Ghana in Washington, DC, has confirmed that Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta, the former Minister for Finance of Ghana, has been detained by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
According to Ghana Web, a press release signed by Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, Victor Emmanuel Smith, stated that the Embassy was informed of Ofori-Atta’s detention and promptly sought to clarify the situation. Upon confirmation of his detention, the Embassy reached out to the detention facility to offer consular assistance to Ofori-Atta, adhering to diplomatic and international protocols.
The facility informed the Embassy that Ofori-Atta declined to interact with consular officers unless his lawyers were present. The Embassy emphasized its commitment to ensuring that Ofori-Atta’s rights are upheld, maintaining communication with the relevant US authorities.
Ken Ofori-Atta faces charges of corruption and corruption-related offenses in Ghana, linked to the SML scandal. The Ghanaian government has requested his extradition from the United States. The Embassy of Ghana continues to monitor the situation closely.