Amanda Akuokor Clinton, a UK and Ghana-based lawyer, has said the release of embattled Ghana’s former finance minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, does not end his legal troubles.
She cautioned the public against interpreting former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta’s release from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention as the end of his legal troubles.
Clinton clarified that Ofori-Atta’s release by judicial order on April 7, 2026, does not mean he has been cleared of any wrongdoing.
Speaking in an interview, Amanda Akuokor Clinton stated, “What this actually means is that he’s not in detention anymore, but he is still subject to US immigration proceedings and possibly court supervision, such as a bond or conditions.
He might even have a tag around his ankle, so freedom doesn’t necessarily mean he’s cleared”.
Amanda Akuokor Clinton further explained that Ofori-Atta’s pending green card application does not offer him automatic protection.
“The application does not equal legal status, not yet anyway… it doesn’t automatically protect you from detention if your visa status becomes invalid,” she added.
The Lawyers for Ghana’s former Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, have confirmed their client has been released from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody following a judicial order.
According to his lawyers in Ghana, Justice Kusi-Minkah Premo of Minkah-Premo, Osei-Bonsu, Bruce-Cathline and Partners, Ken Ofori-Atta is home with his family.
In a statement issued by his lawyers in Ghana, it read, “On April 7, 2026, Ken Ofori-Atta was released from ICE detention pursuant to a judicial order. He is home with his family.
Mr Ofori-Atta remains fully committed to due process in the defence of his rights as guaranteed under the Constitution and laws of the United States,” the statement said.
The former Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta’s passport has been seized by US Authorities after securing bail.
This follows an earlier report of Ken Ofori-Atta being released by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Ken Ofori-Atta was being held at the Caroline Detention Facility regarding issues related to his immigration status.
Reports by Citinews suggest that checks from the Caroline Detention Facility, an ICE-operated centre, confirmed that his name no longer appears on the detention list.
Also, officials at the facility did not provide further details but verified that the former minister has been released.
The search result on the ICE website read, “Your search has returned zero (0) matching records. Please re-check the search terms you entered to ensure they are correct and try your query again. Please remember that the system does not provide information for detainees under the age of 18. If you conducted a name-based search, only exact matches will be returned. You may want to try any name or spelling variants used by the detainee. If you are unable to find the detainee using the Online Detainee Locator System, please contact your local field office. For more information on the Missing Migrant Program, please visit [link].”
Ken Ofori-Atta had been in ICE custody since January 2026.
The embattled former finance minister is now expected to reappear in court on April 27 for deportation proceedings.