The former finance minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, has been remanded into Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention in the United States of America following an immigration hearing today (Tuesday, 20 January 2026), pending further proceedings on his bail application.
The hearing was conducted in private at the request of Mr Ofori-Atta’s legal team, who applied for bail on his behalf.
The state opposed the application, arguing that bail should be refused because Ghana has submitted an extradition request for the former finance minister.
Judge David A Gardey adjourned the US Immigration case against Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta to 1pm on Thursday 27 April, but the government has been given until 19 February 2026 to provide evidence of the extradition proceedings.
The presiding judge declined to rule on the extradition argument at this stage, noting that no documentary evidence had been placed before the tribunal to substantiate the claim that Ofori-Atta is currently the subject of extradition proceedings.
In his ruling, the judge directed the federal government to produce evidence of any such extradition application on or before 19 February 2026.
The tribunal will reconvene at the end of that period to hear the bail application alongside any documentation the government may file and will then deliver a substantive ruling. Until then, Ken Ofori-Atta will remain in ICE detention.
NKONKONSA.com
