“Ofori-Atta Has Been Moved From the Caroline Detention Centre”: Ambassador Smith Discloses

• Ghana’s Ambassador to the US, Victor Emmanuel Smith, said that Ken Ofori-Atta has been moved from the Caroline Detention Facility
• According to the Ambassador, Ken Ofori-Atta is expected to appear before a US court on January 20, 2026, in a virtual hearing
• He stated that he does not know why the hearing would be virtual, but he guessed it was a practice in the US

Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States of America (USA), Victor Emmanuel Smith, has disclosed that the former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, has been moved from the Caroline Detention Facility, where he was held.

Ken Ofori-Atta was arrested by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Monday, January 5, 2026, over immigration status issues. He was sent to the Caroline Detention Facility.

However, Victor Emmanuel Smith said his recent checks showed that the former Finance Minister has been moved from there and is expected to appear before a US court on January 20, 2026. He added that Ofori-Atta's hearing would be virtual.

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“The only thing I know is that Ken’s one would be virtual, and I am also informed that he has been moved from the detention centre where he was before. I haven’t been briefed as to why the virtual court, I guess it is something they do these days.”

Ofori-Atta's fear in returning to Ghana

In an interview with Accra-based TV3, Ghana's Ambassador to the US said that Ken Ofori-Atta, through his cousin Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, expressed fear over fate if he returns.

According to Mr Smith, this fear was expressed by Mr Ofori-Atta’s cousin, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, in a phone conversation.

“Gabby called me and said Ken wants to come, but he is afraid of how he will be treated.”

The Ambassador said he assured Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko that Ofori-Atta will be treated well and taken through the legal process.

"So I told him I wanted to meet Ken and give him the assurance that he will be taken through the legal process because the Attorney-General, Dr Ayine gave me that assurance,” Ambassador Smith said.

Meanwhile, the ICE unit said Ghana’s former Finance Minister Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta is an “illegal alien” who has overstayed his visa.

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ICE adds that the former Finance Minister’s conduct amounts to a violation of US immigration law, which could result in deportation.

Source: YEN.com.gh