Deputy Attorney-General Justice Srem Sai has clarified that former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta’s United States visa did not expire but was revoked in June 2025.
Speaking on TV3's KeyPoints programme on Saturday, January 10, he explained that claims suggesting the visa had simply lapsed were inaccurate, stressing that the revocation was an official decision taken by US authorities.
“ICE will not come for you unless you have visa issues, that is what has happened, Srem Sai said.
“June 2025, his visa was revoked; it’s not an expiration of the Visa. The information we have is that his visa was revoked. So he has been living in America without a visa,” he revealed.
Ofori-Atta was apprehended and detained by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Tuesday, January 6.
In a statement dated Wednesday, January 7, 2026, his lawyers, Minkah-Premo, Osei-Bonsu, Bruce-Cathline, and Partners (MPOBB), stated that Ofori-Atta's detention was in relation to the status of his current stay in the United States.
It explained that his US legal team is in contact with ICE and expects the matter to be resolved expeditiously.
"Mr. Ofori-Atta has a pending petition for adjustment of status, which authorizes a person to stay in the US legally past the period of validity of their visa. Under US law, a change of status by this method is common," it added.
The law firm stressed that the former finance minister is cooperating fully with immigration authorities and urged the public to remain calm.
“The Public is, therefore, advised to note that he is a law-abiding person and is fully cooperating with ICE to have this issue resolved”, the statement added.