Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States has stated that the arrest and detention of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta involved both the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
According to Ambassador Victor Smith, the involvement of the FBI suggests that the case goes beyond simple immigration issues.
Speaking in an interview on Joy News on January 12, 2026, he explained that while ICE typically handles immigration breaches, the presence of the FBI indicates potential criminal or international law enforcement concerns.
‘You've made NPP unattractive’ – Okatakyei Afrifa-Mensah drags Ken Ofori-Atta over US arrest
“I suspect it’s a combination of these two factors. ICE normally handles immigration issues, but when the FBI gets involved, then there must be some criminality or an Interpol request triggering a red alert,” he said.
Ambassador Smith added that the involvement of both agencies suggests that Ghanaian authorities may have requested Ofori-Atta’s cooperation.
“So, the combination of the two convinces me that the Ghanaian government requested this man to be brought in to help us, if you like, unravel some issues that have been brought against him as a former minister,” Smith said.
Ken Ofori-Atta has been charged with corruption and corruption-related offences in connection with the Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML) scandal.
The Government of Ghana has formally requested his extradition from the United States to face the charges.
Ken Ofori-Atta in ICE custody: ICE carried out the arrest of Ken Ofori-Atta, but I understand the FBI was also involved - Victor Emmanuel Smith, Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States.#PMExpress pic.twitter.com/p2xPaHnltD
— JoyNews (@JoyNewsOnTV) January 12, 2026
AM
Meanwhile, watch as NDC MPs and party leadership pay tribute to late Naser Toure Mahama
Copyright © 1994 - 2026 GhanaWeb. All rights reserved.
