Dr Justice Srem Sai, the Deputy Attorney General, has said former Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, could be back in Ghana sooner rather than later.
According to Dr Justice Srem Sai, the Office of the Attorney General is committed to making sure Ken Ofori-Atta returns to Ghana.
Speaking on TV3 Keypoints, on January 10, 2026, Dr Justice Srem Sai detailed, “We are taking advantage of everything, and it didn’t start today. We have been on this [extradition process] from the very moment that we realised that the former minister was out of the country and was unwilling to return.
“So, we have been doing work to make sure that he returns, and that is what we are committed to doing,” he said.
Justice Srem Sai added, “We are actually keenly interested and involved in this, so it’s not even about taking advantage of it. We have been on this track from day one. We collaborate with law enforcement agencies from the United States on this matter,” he indicated.
When asked by the host when Ghanaians should expect the return of Ofori-Atta, he confirmed convincingly, stating, “Ofori-Atta could be back in Ghana sooner than expected”.
His remarks follow the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detaining Ghana’s former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.
On Wednesday, January 7, 2026, a public notice issued by Ghana-based law firm Minkah-Premo, Osei-Bonsu, Bruce-Cathline and Partners (MPOBB) revealed that Ofori-Atta’s detention is linked to questions surrounding his continued stay in the United States, rather than any criminal wrongdoing.
According to them, Ofori-Atta has a pending petition for adjustment of status, which, in US immigration law, allows an individual to remain in the country beyond the validity of their original visa while it is considered.
The public notice read, “The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as of yesterday (6 January 2026), detained the former Minister for Finance, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, regarding the status of his current stay in the United States. His US legal team is in contact with ICE and expects the matter to be resolved expeditiously,”
“Mr Ofori-Atta has a pending petition for adjustment of status, which authorises a person to stay in the US legally beyond the period of validity of their visa. Under US law, a change of status by this method is common.
“The public is, therefore, advised to note that he is a law-abiding person and is fully cooperating with ICE to have this issue resolved. His legal team is in contact with ICE and working to resolve the matter as expeditiously as possible,” the public notice further read.
However, Dr Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, has revealed that former Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, was given up to November 29 to leave the United States after his visa was revoked.
According to the Attorney General, Ken Ofori-Atta’s detention by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was part of ongoing extradition processes.
Speaking on JoyNews Newsfile on Saturday, January 10, 2026, Dr Ayine stated, “So, I started working with the Americans in respect of Ofori-Atta long before OSP came up with the announcement. I started working with them, and I want Ghanaians to know that he just didn’t overstay his visa”.
The AG explained, “The visa was actually revoked. So, it’s not that Ofori-Atta overstayed. So, in July, the American State Department revoked his visa, and they gave him up to November 29 to leave the United States. He did not. And then, that is how come that they decided they were going to now pursue him, and arrest him. Actually, the arrest was supposed to occur on January 4th [2026], and they did not do so, but on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, they apprehended him in the Virginia area and took him into custody”.
“It’s not exactly about immigration. It was revoked. The visa was revoked. I am telling you this on authority,” he stated.
Watch the video below:
ICE Detains Ofori-Atta: 'Former finance minister Ofori-Atta could be in Ghana sooner than expected'. – Deputy Attorney-General Justice Srem Sai#TheKeyPoints #TV3GH pic.twitter.com/rOTXQBwHRZ
— #TV3GH (@tv3_ghana) January 10, 2026