Ghana’s High Commissioner to the United States says the involvement of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the detention of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta suggests the case goes beyond immigration issues.
Victor Smith, speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Monday, said that while Immigration and Customs Enforcement typically handles immigration breaches, the presence of the FBI points to possible criminal or international law enforcement concerns.
“I suspect it’s a combination of these two factors. ICE normally will pick you for immigration issues, but then, when the FBI comes in, then there must be some criminality or Interpol police request so that the red alert comes in there,” he said.
He said the involvement of both agencies leads him to believe Ghanaian authorities may have requested Mr Ofori-Atta’s cooperation.https://www.youtube.com/embed/QmfLkgyL4sA?si=CLTT4Oj4oi0xfDnA
“So the combination of the two of them convinces me that the Ghana government had 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,” Mr Smith said.
His comments follow the detention of Mr Ofori-Atta by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement over questions surrounding his immigration status.
A statement from his legal team said the former minister is cooperating fully with ICE while efforts are made to resolve the matter. It added that he has a pending petition for adjustment of status, which allows an individual to remain legally in the US beyond the validity of an initial visa.
Mr Smith said he was not briefed on any revocation of a valid visa.
“No Attorney General mentioned that to me,” he said.
He said his involvement began only after the former minister had been picked up, prompting the Ghanaian embassy to activate consular procedures.
“The extent of my involvement at this stage was when he had been picked up,” he said.
Mr Smith said the embassy requested access to ensure Mr Ofori-Atta was being treated properly in line with international protocols.
“We decided to make a request to make sure that he was being treated properly, as per international protocols,” he said.
He said the visit did not materialise after Mr Ofori-Atta declined to meet embassy officials in the presence of his lawyers.https://www.youtube.com/embed/iqVB2-y9QbA?si=htazJFkNMkambDzW
“The detainee had refused to meet with us without his lawyers,” he said.
After several hours, embassy officials were informed that the former minister had declined to see them entirely.
“After about a few hours, they came back to us to say the detainee, being the ex minister, had refused now to see us under any circumstances,” Mr Smith said.
“So that was the end of the road for me and the embassy.”
The former finance minister remains in the custody of US immigration authorities as legal processes continue.
