Washington: US-based immigration lawyer Jonelle Ocloo has clarified that the January 20, 2026, appearance of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta before a United States immigration court was not a deportation or extradition hearing, as widely reported but rather a bond redetermination hearing.
According to Ghana Web, Ofori-Atta, who was arrested and detained by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), appeared before the immigration court in a hearing that was streamed online. Despite the proceedings, he remains in detention. Explaining the nature of the court session in an interview on Joy News on January 20, 2026, Ocloo stressed that the hearing had been misunderstood by the public.
Ocloo further explained that Ofori-Atta's legal team is seeking his release from detention while the immigration process continues. She clarified that the hearing was a redetermination of his bond, not a deportation hearing as previously reported. The lawyer emphasized that the team's goal is to secure Ofori-Atta's release on bond so that he can return home while the immigration process continues.
The lawyer further underlined that the proceedings strictly concern immigration matters and do not involve criminal charges or extradition. She noted that the next significant stage in the case would be the master calendar hearing, where the US government will formally outline the immigration violations being alleged.