Former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta is scheduled to appear before a United States immigration court on June 15, 2026, in a pivotal hearing that could influence both his attempt to remain in America and Ghana’s push to bring him back to face criminal prosecution.
Court filings show the case will be heard at 1:00 pm before Judge David A. Gardey at the Annandale Immigration Court in Virginia, with proceedings expected to take place virtually.
The upcoming session is anticipated to move beyond preliminary matters and delve into the substance of his immigration case, including arguments surrounding his continued stay in the United States.
The development follows Ofori-Atta’s release from the custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement on April 7 after a court granted him bail set at $65,000. His legal team in Ghana, Minkah-Premo, Osei-Bonsu, Bruce-Cathline and Partners, confirmed at the time that he had reunited with his family.
“Mr Ofori-Atta remains fully committed to use due process in defence of his rights as guaranteed under the constitution and laws of the United States,” the legal team said in a statement.
According to case details, the former minister entered the US on May 28, 2025, on a visitor’s visa which expired on November 27, 2025. He, however, remained in the country beyond the authorised period, leading to his arrest by ICE on January 6, 2026, in Washington, D.C.
Back in Ghana, authorities in Accra are seeking his return to face more than 70 criminal charges alongside five other individuals as part of ongoing corruption-related investigations. Among the issues under scrutiny are allegations tied to the Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited contract.
His US-based lawyer, Enayat Qasimi, has maintained that his client is pursuing a “pathway to residency” in the United States rather than returning to Ghana. He has also raised concerns about whether Ofori-Atta would receive a fair trial if extradited, describing the legal action against him as politically motivated.
Ofori-Atta, who served under former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo from 2017 until early 2024, was a central figure in the previous administration’s economic management. His tenure included Ghana’s 2023 IMF-supported programme but was also marked by public backlash over the country’s debt crisis and the controversial Domestic Debt Exchange Programme.
The June 15 hearing is expected to attract significant attention both in Ghana and the United States, as its outcome could determine whether the former minister remains in America or moves closer to returning home to stand trial.
