Former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta is no longer listed on the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainee database, sparking reports that he has been released from custody.
Checks on the agency’s detainee locator system confirm that his name no longer appears, a development that has been corroborated by activist Oliver Barker-Vormawor. According to him, sources indicate that Ofori-Atta was released on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
Ofori-Atta had reportedly been in ICE custody since early January after his arrest in the United States over issues related to his immigration status. He was picked up by ICE officials in the Virginia area, with his legal team later confirming that his detention was tied to concerns about the legality of his stay in the country.
During his time in custody, he was held at an ICE detention facility in Virginia for several weeks while legal proceedings unfolded. These included immigration-related processes as well as an extradition request from Ghana.
Reports indicate that he was denied bail by a U.S. court as he challenged the case and sought to regularize his status.
His detention attracted significant public and political attention in Ghana, largely due to his previous role as Finance Minister.
With his reported release, attention now shifts to what comes next whether he will remain in the United States or face possible extradition to Ghana. As of now, there has been no official statement from U.S. authorities or his legal team outlining the conditions of his release or the next steps in the case.
