Kumasi: Washington, D.C.: A group of Ghanaian politicians have recently found themselves in the custody of US law enforcement agencies, marking a shift in the narrative from romance scams to political figures accused of various legal breaches. This development has arguably tarnished Ghana's image internationally.
According to Ghana Web, Ken Ofori-Atta, Ghana's longest-serving Minister of Finance, is among those detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for allegedly overstaying his visa. His visa was revoked in July 2025, and he was asked to leave the US by November 2025, which he failed to do. Ghana's Attorney General, Dr. Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, confirmed that the visa revocation was requested by the Ghanaian government to bring Ofori-Atta back to face 78 counts of corruption charges. These charges relate to the Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) revenue assurance contract. An extradition request has been filed for his return, with additional investigations pending.
Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu, the former Chief Executive Officer of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), is also in ICE custody. Her detention, likely linked to her immigration status, follows a 10-year sentence for embezzling GHS3.19 million and causing a financial loss of GHS90 million to Ghana. She was tried in absentia after not returning from the US, where she had traveled for medical treatment in 2021.
Valentino Nortey, a former New Patriotic Party parliamentary candidate, was detained over a stabbing incident involving his wife in Pennsylvania. He faces charges of attempted homicide and other related offenses, and is currently held without bail in Dauphin County Prison.
The Ghanaian government is also pursuing the extradition of Ernest Akore Darko, Chef de Cabinet of Ken Ofori-Atta. Darko, who is believed to have traveled to the US in 2024, faces the same 78 corruption charges as Ofori-Atta, in connection with the SML contract. His current whereabouts are unknown.