Embattled former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta , has reportedly been denied bail by a United States immigration court.
According to veteran journalist Alfred Ogbamey, sources close to the proceedings say the bail application was heard on February 19, 2026, but was unsuccessful. Lawyers for the former minister had asked the court to grant him bail to enable him seek medical treatment.
However, the presiding judge, David Gardey, rejected the request. Judge Gardey of the Annandale Court in Virginia is reported to have ruled that bail was unnecessary, stating that Ofori-Atta has access to adequate medical care at the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility where he is being held.
The former minister is currently in custody at the Caroline Detention Facility, an ICE holding centre in Virginia. During last Thursday’s hearing, his legal team argued that he required proper medical attention outside the facility, but the court maintained that his medical needs could be met while in detention.
Checks by GhanaWeb indicate that Ofori-Atta remains in ICE custody. A search on the official website of the United States Department of Homeland Security also showed that he was still being held at the Caroline Detention Facility as of 1:00 p.m. on February 23, 2026.
Ofori-Atta was detained by ICE on January 6, 2026. The latest development suggests he could remain in custody until April 27, 2026, when the court is expected to commence his deportation hearing
