Former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has been freed from the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after a judge granted him bail. He is due back in court on April 27 for deportation hearings, as the case continues to be complicated by missing paperwork and jurisdictional delays.
The bail was granted after Ofori-Atta’s legal team successfully argued that, without a formal extradition request from Ghana on file, the court could not legally classify him as a flight risk. His release was arranged through a private bonding company for what is reported to be a substantial sum.
During a previous hearing in March 2026, the presiding judge had specifically asked to see Ghana’s extradition request before ruling on the bail application. The judge indicated that such documentation would be essential in determining whether Ofori-Atta posed a flight risk—a crucial factor in bail decisions. However, sources close to the matter say the U.S. Attorney General has not provided a copy of Ghana’s extradition request to the State Attorney for submission to the court. The reason for this delay remains unclear.
A source familiar with the proceedings explained, “In the absence of sighting a copy of the extradition request, he could not be deemed a flight risk.”
Ofori-Atta was arrested by ICE on January 6, 2026, and held at the Caroline Detention Facility in Virginia. While the judge had earlier requested that Ghana’s extradition request be submitted to the court to assist in setting bail conditions, the U.S. Attorney General has yet to forward the document to the State Attorney handling the case. Meanwhile, back in Ghana, the Office of the Special Prosecutor continues to pursue its corruption case against the former finance minister, awaiting his return.
His release was confirmed in an April 8 statement issued by his lawyer, Justice Kusi-Minkah Premo of Minkah-Premo, Osei-Bonsu, Bruce-Cathline & Partners. According to the legal team, Ofori-Atti is committed to resolving all matters through lawful means. “He remains fully committed to use due process in defence of his rights as guaranteed under the constitution and laws of the United States,” Mr. Premo noted.
