Lawyer for former Finance Minister Ken Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta said a United States immigration court has adjourned proceedings on his bond application to February 19, 2026, after Ghanaian government authorities raised objections linked to an ongoing extradition process.
According to his lead counsel, Frank Davies, Mr. Ofori-Atta will remain in custody until his bond application is determined.
Ken Ofori-Atta appeared before a U.S. immigration court on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, via a virtual link for a bond redetermination and immigration status hearing.
Speaking on Joy News and monitored by NewsDesksGH on January 21, lawyer Frank Davies said the hearing followed Ken Ofori-Atta’s arrest by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement earlier this month.
“Once you have been picked up, you’ll have to be given a hearing in the immigration court. And that was what happened yesterday,”
“Ken, through his lawyers, had to give reason why he should continue to remain in the United States or why he should not be deported because people are saying he has been classified an illegal citizen. So that is what happened and the matter stands adjourned to the 27th of April,” Mr. Davies explained.
He added that the court, presided over by Judge Davis Gardey, also heard arguments on a bond application, a process equivalent to a bail application under U.S. immigration law.
“A bond posting or bond application hearing is a United States legal practice. Here, we’ll say bail application,” he explained.
Frank Davies noted the court had initiated the bond process and was close to making a determination when Ghana government authorities objected.
“They posted the bond and just as the court was about to make a determination, our government authorities raised an objection that there was an extradition proceeding.”
Following that objection, the judge halted the process and granted time for the government to prove these claims.
“On that call, the judge adjourned the proceeding for the bond posting to the 19th of February. Our authorities have 30 working days to provide ample proof of extradition proceedings to the judge.”
He noted that once the court receives and reviews the documentation, a decision would be taken on whether Mr. Ofori-Atta should be released from detention.
“After this, the judge would then make a decision to release Ken from detention custody,” he added.
Ofori-Atta is currently being held at the Caroline Detention Facility in Bowling Green, Virginia.
Mr. Davies further outlined the criteria the court would consider in determining the bond application.
“Whether or not Ken is going to be a flight risk after his removal from detention, whether he’s going to pose a danger to the community or whether he’s able, ready, prepared and willing to post the bond in the amount determined,” he explained.
He stressed that while the bond hearing has been pushed to February 19, the substantive immigration proceedings remain scheduled for later April 27 b
Ken Ofori-Atta was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on January 6, 2026, due to issues with the status of his U.S. visa.
While his legal team maintains that he has a pending adjustment of status application and that the matter is strictly immigration related, Ghana’s Attorney-General’s Department has stated that his visa was revoked, and that they had something to do with that.
The Ghanaian government has submitted a formal extradition request for Mr. Ofori-Atta, who has been charged in absentia with 78 counts of corruption and financial misconduct linked to the Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) revenue assurance contracts, which caused significant financial loss to the state.
