Ghana’s High Commissioner to the United States says he was disappointed after former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta refused to meet consular officials following his detention by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Victor Smith told Joy News’ PM Express on Monday that the Ghanaian mission had sought access to Mr Ofori-Atta to verify his welfare and ensure he was being treated 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.
According to him, ICE initially agreed to allow the embassy to visit the former minister. Arrangements were made, and consular officers prepared to leave for the detention facility.
“Just before we set out, the ICE agents came again and said the detainee had refused to meet with us without his lawyers,” Mr Smith said.
He said ICE later returned with a stronger response.
“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,” he said.
Mr Smith said the decision effectively ended the embassy’s involvement at that stage.
“So that was the end of the road for me and the embassy,” he added.
Clarifying earlier reports, the High Commissioner said consular officers did not travel to the detention centre. He explained that ICE representatives came directly to his office to relay the messages.
“They had indicated initially in the phone conversation that they had cleared a way for us to go,” he said.
He said that moments before departure, ICE officials informed the embassy of a problem.
“They said the detainee is unwilling to have us visit him without his lawyers,” he said.
Mr Smith said after waiting several hours, ICE returned with a final answer.
“He was adamant. He wasn’t going to now, under no circumstance, want to see us,” he said.
Asked how he reacted, the High Commissioner said the decision was disappointing on a personal and official level.
“We’re a bit of a disappointment, because I know Ken personally,” he said.
“He may not be my friend, but I know him personally,” he added.
Mr Smith said no one had visited Mr Ofori-Atta at the time, and the embassy only wanted to hear directly from him if he had concerns.
“Being a Ghanaian and being our responsibility, so to speak, in a host country, I felt that if we had had the opportunity to at least hear about if he had some concerns for us, to probably try and assist,” he said.
“So shutting the door in our face and not wanting to see us under any circumstances was a bit unfortunate,” he added.
Mr Smith also addressed concerns about the former finance minister’s health and the conditions of detention.
He said ICE had assured the embassy that Mr Ofori-Atta had been medically assessed before being detained.
“They had medical people to determine whether he was fit to be held in the detention centre,” he said.
He said ICE confirmed that Mr Ofori-Atta was on medication and had access to it while in detention.
“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 said.
Mr Smith said ICE detention facilities have fully manned medical centres and that he was satisfied with the explanations given.
“They have a very well-manned Medical Centre for the detainees,” he said.
He said ICE officials were open to scrutiny and wanted transparency.
“They were very welcoming and said, come and see for yourself,” he said.
“I respected what he had said to me, that he had been assessed and was given the all clear to be held in that detention centre,” Mr Smith added.
Background
Former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta was detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement over questions surrounding his immigration status.
His legal team has confirmed that he is cooperating fully with ICE while efforts are underway to resolve the matter.
According to a statement, Mr Ofori-Atta has a pending petition for adjustment of status, a process under US law that allows an individual to remain legally in the country beyond the validity of an initial visa.
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