A video has surfaced of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta during his US court hearing following his detainment by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
In the viral video, Ken Ofori-Atta appeared before a United States immigration court in Virginia on Tuesday, January 20, 2026.
Mr Ofori-Atta was spotted wearing a dark shirt and a face mask during the hearing.
His case was heard at the Annandale Immigration Court before Immigration Judge David Gardey.
The former finance minister was represented by his legal team, including Christopher Chaisson of Whiteford Taylor & Preston and Kwao Amagashi.
Ken Ofori-Atta is currently being held at the Caroline Detention Centre.
The hearing was a bond redetermination proceeding addressing his immigration status, following the revocation of his visa and related overstay/loss of lawful status issues.
It was initially set up as virtual (via Webex), attracting significant public interest with many attempting to join.
Due to the high public attention, Ofori-Atta’s legal team, led by U.S. counsel Christopher Chaisson, successfully requested that the proceedings be held in camera (private and closed to the public), and Immigration Judge David Gardey granted the request.
The court adjourned the case to April 27, 2026, with a direction for the U.S. government to provide evidence of any extradition application by February 19, 2026.
Ofori-Atta will remain in ICE detention at the Caroline Detention Facility in Bowling Green, Virginia, in the meantime.
Meanwhile, Ken Ofori-Atta has been described by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as an illegal alien.
According to an ICE spokesperson, Ken Ofori-Atta is facing corruption and corruption-related charges in his home country.
ICE detailed that Ken Ofori-Atta entered the United States on May 28, 2025, on a visitor’s visa with an expiration date of November 27, 2025.
The ICE spokesperson responding to Tv3’s Joseph Ackah-Blay is quoted to have said, “Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta is an illegal alien from Ghana who is facing corruption and corruption-related charges in his home country. He entered the United States on May 28, 2025, on a visitor’s visa with an expiration date of November 27, 2025. Ofori-Atta overstayed his permitted admission”.
“He has been issued a notice to appear and will remain in ICE custody. He will be given due process before a Justice Department immigration judge,” the spokesperson said.
“The Trump administration has been abundantly clear: aliens must respect our laws or face the consequences. Overstaying a visa is an immigration law violation that can result in deportation,” he added.
Watch the video below:
JUST IN: The immigration case involving former Ghana Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, who has been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) since January 6, 2026, was heard today, January 20, 2026, in a U.S. Immigration Court (the Annandale Immigration Court) in… pic.twitter.com/eivhC3SsP5
— 𝐀𝐒𝐊 (@askghmedia) January 20, 2026