I am very hopeful, extremely hopeful, that Ken will come back to Ghana—Attorney General

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I am very hopeful, extremely hopeful, that Ken will come back to Ghana—Attorney General

The Attorney General and Minister for Justice

 Dr. Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, has expressed optimism that former finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta will be returned to Ghana, as legal proceedings over his immigration status continue in the United States.

Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dr Dominic Akuritinga Ayine

Speaking to the media on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, Dr. Ayine said the matter is being handled by American authorities in line with US law.

“The American authorities are handling the process, and they are handling it in accordance with American law. So far, I don’t find anything wrong with what has taken place,” he stated.

He said he has been closely monitoring the case and has received briefings from officials in the United States but noted that the details of those discussions are confidential.

“I’ve had reports from the United States regarding what has happened and what may happen, but these are confidential discussions, and I’m not supposed to talk to the media about what they have briefed me on,” he said.

Dr. Ayine clarified that the ongoing court proceedings are strictly immigration-related and separate from any extradition process.

“What is happening now is in relation to immigration law violations. That is separate and distinct from the extradition request. If it was put before the immigration judge that there’s an extradition request, he wants a formal filing before him. So the Justice Department would have to do that before a decision is taken,” he explained.

Although he declined to provide timelines, the attorney general said he remains hopeful.

“I don’t control what happens with the Justice Department in the US, but I am very hopeful, extremely hopeful, that this will go through for Ken to come back to Ghana,” he added.

Ken Ofori-Atta appeared before a United States immigration court in Annandale, Virginia, on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, after his arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on January 6, 2026.

US authorities argue that the former finance minister no longer has lawful status to remain in the country following the revocation of his visitor visa.

The case was heard before Immigration Judge David Gardey and focused on a bond redetermination and a preliminary review.

During the hearing, Ofori-Atta’s lawyers requested that both the bond hearing and the related master calendar hearing be held in private due to the sensitive nature of the issues involved.

The judge granted the request and ordered non-parties observing via Webex to exit before proceedings continued.

Ofori-Atta faces several criminal charges in Ghana over alleged corruption and corruption-related offenses, including matters linked to the Ghana Revenue Authority, the Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited contract, and other procurement issues.

I monitored Ken Ofori-Atta’s US court case and received confidential reports on the proceedings. Although the case involved immigration issues, I'm hopeful an extradition process will soon be initiated to return him to Ghana - AG, Dominic Akuritinga Ayine.#JoyNews pic.twitter.com/5FunPWqSvy

— JoyNews (@JoyNewsOnTV) January 21, 2026

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