Deputy Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Justice Srem-Sai, has indicated that former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, could return to Ghana sooner than many expect, following developments surrounding his immigration status in the United States.
Speaking on TV3’s Key Points programme on Saturday, January 10, he said his ministry is actively involved in the matter and is working closely with relevant law enforcement agencies.
“We are keenly involved in this matter. We collaborate with law enforcement agencies in this matter,” he said.
Srem-Sai clarified that the involvement of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was not random, stressing that ICE typically acts only when there are immigration or visa-related issues.
“ICE will not come for you unless you have visa issues. That is what has happened,” he explained.
According to the Deputy Attorney-General, Mr Ofori-Atta’s US visa was revoked in June 2025, contrary to earlier speculation that it had expired.
“June 2025, his visa was revoked; it’s not an expiration of the visa. The information we have is that his visa was revoked. So he has been living in America without a visa,” Justice Srem Sai stated.
His comments align with earlier disclosures by Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, who revealed that the former Finance Minister’s visa revocation was deliberate and linked to ongoing investigations, rather than a routine immigration matter.
Dr Ayine had said US authorities initially directed Mr Ofori-Atta to leave the country by November 29, 2024, but he failed to comply. He added that US officials planned to arrest him on January 4, 2026, although he was eventually taken into custody on January 6 in the Virginia area.
The Attorney-General further disclosed that Ghana’s extradition request is connected to investigations by the Office of the Special Prosecutor into the SML matter, and that Ghanaian authorities have been working closely with their US counterparts on the case.
Meanwhile, lawyers for Mr Ofori-Atta have said efforts are underway in the United States to resolve his immigration situation. His lawyer, Frank Davies, confirmed that a petition had been filed to extend his client’s immigration status, but ICE proceeded to detain him regardless.
Mr Ofori-Atta is currently being held at the Caroline Detention Facility in the United States as legal processes continue.
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