Two former state officials of the Republic of Ghana, who are currently in the United States, have had their freedom curtailed after they were arrested and detained by US authorities in January 2026.

The two public officials are being sought by authorities in Ghana for their alleged roles in causing financial loss to the country.

Meanwhile, Ghana’s security agencies have assured the public that they are working around the clock to ensure the extradition of the suspects to face justice.

Here are the two public officials detained in the United States in 2026.

1. Sedina Tamakloe- Attionu

Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States of America, Victor Smith has confirmed the arrest and detention of former Chief Executive Officer of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Sedina Tamakloe- Attionu in the United States.

In a statement issued on January 15, 2026, and signed by the ambassador, it was disclosed that Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu was arrested by the US Marshals on January 6, 2026.

The statement further indicated that she is currently being held at the Nevada Southern Detention Centre, located at 2190 East Mesquite Avenue, Pahrump, and is awaiting her day in court.

"I can today confirm that Mrs Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu, is being detained at the Nevada Southern Detention Center.

"2190 East Mesquite Avenue.

"Pahrump, NEVADA.

"My information is that she was detained by US Marshals on January 6th and has since been kept at that detention center.

"I am reliably informed that acting on an extradition request sent to the US Authorities sometime in July 2024, US Marshals arrested Mrs Tamakloe-Attionu and placed her in detention to await her day in court," part of the statement read.

Sedina Tamakloe- Attionu was sentenced to 10 years in prison on April 16, 2024, for embezzling GH¢3.19 million during her tenure at MASCLOC and causing a deliberate financial loss of GH$90 million to the state.

Additionally, Sedina, together with Daniel Axim, who is also a former Chief Operating Officer of MASCLOC, was accused of making unauthorised commitments, resulting in financial obligations totalling GH¢61.74 million for the government.

Furthermore, the charges included GH¢22.15 million in public property loss, improper payment of GH¢273,743, and laundering of GH¢3.7 million.

In a significant development, the court granted the prosecution's request to proceed with the trial in Attionu's absence on February 24, 2023. This decision came after Attionu was permitted to travel to the United States in 2021 for medical treatment but failed to return.

Prior to the trial in absentia, on January 24, 2023, the court ordered former Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) CEO Alex Mould and actor Gavivina Tamakloe to pay a GH¢5 million bail bond to the state due to their inability to produce Attionu, for whom they acted as sureties.

According to the prosecution's account, in 2017, the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) investigated fraudulent disbursements of MASLOC funds involving Attionu and Axim.

The investigations revealed that in June 2014, MASLOC invested GH$150,000 in Obaatanpa Micro-Finance Company Limited, a licensed Tier II microfinance company in Ejura, Ashanti Region.

Attionu subsequently offered an additional GH¢500,000 investment to Obaatanpa, leading to the issuance of a MASLOC Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) cheque worth GH$500,000 to Obaatanpa on July 24, 2014.

Upon receipt of the cheque, Attionu allegedly demanded a 24% interest rate from Obaatanpa. When Obaatanpa refused, Attionu demanded a cash refund. Obaatanpa obliged, returning GH¢500,000 in cash to Attionu on August 28, 2014.

Despite acknowledging receipt of the refunded sum in a letter dated August 28, 2014, investigations revealed that MASLOC had no record of the repayment. It was alleged that Attionu appropriated the GH¢500,000 for personal use.

2.Ken Ofori-Atta

Former Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, has also been detained by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

According to a public notice by his lawyers, on January 7, 2026, the former finance minister was arrested in relation to the status of his current stay in the United States.

“The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as of yesterday (6 January 2026), detained the former Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, regarding the status of his current stay in the United States. His US legal team is in contact with ICE and expects the matter to be resolved expeditiously,” part of the public notice signed by Justice Kusi-Minkah Premo read.

See the breakdown of funds Sedina Tamakloe embezzled that led to her 10-year sentence

The lawyers of the former finance minister, who is a suspect in many corruption-related investigations and has been declared a wanted fugitive in Ghana, said that he is currently working on documents regarding his stay in the US.

Government files extradition request for Ken Ofori-Atta

“Mr Ofori-Atta has a pending petition for adjustment of status, which authorises a person to stay in the US legally beyond the period of validity of their visa. Under US law, a change of status by this method is common.

“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. His legal team is in contact with ICE and working to resolve the matter as expeditiously as possible,” the public notice issued by Mr Ofori-Atta’s lawyers further read.

Ofori-Atta is a suspect in multiple criminal investigations by Ghana’s Office of the Special Prosecutor, which declared him wanted and placed him on an Interpol Red Notice.

Below are the cases the OSP has declared Ofori-Atta wanted for:

1. Contractual arrangements between Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited and the Ghana Revenue Authority, aimed at enhancing revenue assurance in the downstream petroleum sector, upstream petroleum production, and the minerals and metals resources value chain.

2. Termination of a contract between the Electricity Company of Ghana Limited and Beijing Xiao Cheng Technology (BXC) for the Distribution, Loss Reduction, and Associated Network Improvement Project.

3. Procurement of contractors, materials, and payments related to the National Cathedral project.

4. Activities and payments associated with a contract awarded by the Ministry of Health (initially commenced by the Ministry for Special Development Initiatives) to Service Ghana Auto Group Limited for the purchase and after-sales service and maintenance of 307 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 305 CDI ambulances for the National Ambulance Service.

5. Payments and utilisation of funds from the Tax Refund Account of the Ghana Revenue Authority.

See the notice below:



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