Photos of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention centre in Virginia holding Ghana’s former embattled finance minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, have surfaced following his detainment.
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.
According to reports, ICE is currently holding Ken Ofori-Atta at the Caroline Detention Facility in Virginia.
The facility, previously a Peumansend Creek Regional Jail, was repurposed into an immigration detention centre.
The site sits on approximately 150 acres of land and is located about four miles north of Fort A.P. Hill along Route 301.
It houses a capacity of 336 undocumented adult immigrants and consists of seven buildings.
One of the residential units is designated for women with five male detainees, with each unit equipped with televisions and recreational facilities, while others have televisions installed inside individual cells.
Meanwhile, Arise Ghana, a pressure group, has announced plans to demonstrate at the American Embassy in Accra to demand the repatriation of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta.
The planned protest is part of a series of demonstrations by Arise Ghana calling for government officials to face scrutiny for their conduct.
Speaking at a press conference, Arise Ghana stated, “ I can assure all of you present here that Arise Ghana will soon be picketing an endless one to make sure that Ken Ofori-Atta is repatriated to Ghana to face the law for him to answer the questions that the Ghanian people are demanding.
Accountability is essential to restoring public trust and deterring future misconduct. Arise Ghana joins the call for the immediate arrest and extradition of Ken Ofori-Atta to Ghana to face justice.
See the photos below:
