Former Minister for Finance, Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta, has declined to engage with officials of the Ghana Embassy in Washington, DC, following his detention by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the embassy has confirmed.
In a press statement dated 10 December 2026 and signed by Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, Victor Emmanuel Smith, the embassy disclosed that after formally requesting access to Mr Ofori-Atta to offer consular assistance, the detention facility informed them that the former minister refused to meet embassy officials without his lawyers present.
The embassy confirmed that Mr Ofori-Atta is currently in the custody of ICE, adding that it took immediate steps to verify the circumstances surrounding the detention once the information came to its attention.
“Upon receiving this information, the Embassy undertook the necessary steps to verify the circumstances surrounding the matter,” the statement said.
Following verification, the embassy said it formally contacted the relevant detention facility to request access in line with diplomatic and international protocols.
Despite the refusal of direct engagement, the embassy said it remains in contact with the appropriate US authorities and will continue to monitor the situation closely to ensure that Mr Ofori-Atta’s rights are “totally respected.”
