Former Minister for Finance, Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta, has declined consular assistance from the Ghana Embassy in Washington, DC, indicating that he would only engage embassy officials in the presence of his legal team, according to a statement issued by the mission.
In a press release dated 10 January 2026 and signed by Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, Victor Emmanuel Smith, the embassy confirmed that Mr Ofori-Atta had been taken into custody by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The statement said the mission acted promptly after learning of the development to establish the facts surrounding the detention.
“Upon receiving this information, the Embassy undertook the necessary steps to verify the circumstances surrounding the matter,” the statement said.
After confirming the situation, the embassy said it formally contacted the relevant detention facility to request access to Mr Ofori-Atta in order to provide consular support, in accordance with standard diplomatic procedures and international conventions, including the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, which guarantees detained foreign nationals the right to consular access.
However, authorities at the detention facility informed the embassy that Mr Ofori-Atta declined to meet with consular officers at that stage, insisting on the presence of his lawyers.
“The Embassy was informed by the facility that the detainee declined to engage with consular officials without his lawyers present,” the statement noted.
The embassy clarified that this decision was made by Mr Ofori-Atta himself and did not reflect any refusal of access by United States authorities.
It added that the mission remains in regular contact with the relevant US agencies and continues to monitor the situation to ensure that Mr Ofori-Atta’s rights and welfare are fully upheld throughout the process.
While the statement did not specify the grounds for the detention, it said the matter remains under active engagement between Ghanaian diplomatic officials and their US counterparts.
The embassy also declined to comment on any possible legal proceedings, citing the need to respect due process.
Mr Ofori-Atta, who served as Ghana’s finance minister for several years, is a high-profile public figure whose tenure included major fiscal and economic reforms, as well as negotiations with international financial institutions during periods of economic strain.
News of his detention has attracted significant public and political attention in Ghana and among members of the Ghanaian community in the United States.
Diplomatic sources note that it is standard practice for embassies to offer consular support to detained nationals, including welfare checks, assistance with legal representation and communication with family members. Such support, however, may be declined by the individual concerned, particularly on the advice of legal counsel.
The Ghana Embassy reiterated its readiness to provide assistance should Mr Ofori-Atta request it at a later stage.
“The Embassy of Ghana remains in contact with the appropriate United States authorities and will continue to follow the matter closely to ensure that Mr Ofori-Atta’s rights are totally respected,” the statement said.
