Notable figures who have reacted to Ken Ofori-Atta's arrest and detention so far

The arrest of Ghana’s former Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has become one of the most discussed issues among Ghanaians both at home and abroad.

Ofori-Atta was detained on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, at the Caroline Detention Facility in Virginia.

According to US authorities, the arrest was linked to immigration status breaches while he was in the country for medical care.

News of his detention quickly spread, drawing mixed reactions. While some Ghanaians expressed joy over the development, others sought clarity, pointing out that Ghana’s Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has also been pursuing him in connection with corruption-related investigations.

Since the announcement of Ken Ofori-Atta’s arrest on January 7, 2026, the development has stirred widespread debates among Ghanaians. From ordinary citizens to notable public figures, many have voiced their sentiments on the issue.

This GhanaWeb listicle highlights some of the prominent personalities who have reacted or spoken publicly about the former finance minister’s arrest.

Richard Ahiagbah

First on the list is New Patriotic Party (NPP) Communications Director, Richard Ahiagbah, who defended the former minister and questioned the basis of ICE’s action.

Speaking on Accra-based Joy Prime on Monday, January 12, 2026, Ahiagbah insisted that Ofori-Atta had not overstayed his visa.

He explained that the former minister’s visa was valid until mid-February 2026 and that he had already taken steps to renew it.

“The truth is Ken has taken steps. His visa will expire in February this year but then he has taken proactive steps of renewing it. Why was he arrested when he had a valid visa until February 14?” he quizzed.

Okatakyie Afrifa-Mensah

Media personality Okatakyie Afrifa-Mensah has also lambasted Ken Ofori-Atta, following his reported detention by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

According to him, Ken Ofori-Atta is ruining the image of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

He said the former Minister of Finance, who has been accused of corruption-related offences and alleged to have caused financial losses to the state, has made the political party distasteful and unattractive to people.

"You have made the party look like there are no leaders, so everyone can do whatever he or she wants. When Ken Ofori-Atta was the Minister of Finance, we cautioned him about his poor performance and even called for his resignation, but he made it clear that there was no way he would resign," he said.

Victor Smith

Ghana's Ambassador to the United States, Victor Smith, has also disclosed that the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta was medically fit to be held in detention.

According to Smith, in a JoyNews interview on January 12, 2026, ICE subjected Ofori-Atta to medical assessment before making a decision on his detention status.

"Yes, the ICE people confirmed that he was all right. Initially, they had medical people to determine whether he was fit to be held in the detention centre, and they were convinced and were assured that he was okay," he disclosed.

He further clarified that although Ofori-Atta was on medication, he was not under the active care of a doctor at the time of the assessment.

"He was on medication, but he wasn't seeing any doctor at the time, and he had his medication, so he could be put in the detention centre," he stated.

Franklin Cudjoe

The Founding President and Chief Executive Officer of the IMANI Centre for Policy and Education, Franklin Cudjoe, reacting to Ofori-Atta's arrest and detention by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), described it as a damaging blow to his reputation.

Appearing on TV3’s Ghana Tonight on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, Cudjoe argued that the arrest has worsened Ofori-Atta’s situation, especially as Ghana’s Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has already requested his extradition to face corruption charges back home.

“Ofori-Atta has brought all of this unto himself. Once ICE detains you, you have heightened your case because right now, ICE is treating you as some sort of criminal. Probably, stay of visa. You are now going to apply and in the presence of applying, they will say you are facing some issues back home, they will bangle you and throw you back here,” he stated.

VKB/AE