Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, Victor Emmanuel Smith, has revealed that former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta is gripped by fear that he could lose his court case in Ghana and end up in prison if he returns.

Speaking on TV3’s The KeyPoints on January 17, Ambassador Smith said the former finance minister’s greatest concern is not merely facing trial, but the possibility of being jailed.

“Gabby called me and said Ken wants to come but he is afraid of how he will be treated,” Mr. Smith disclosed. “He is worried about what will happen to him when he returns.”

According to the ambassador, Mr. Ofori-Atta believes the legal process could go against him, raising fears that he may lose the case and be sent to jail.

Mr. Smith said he attempted to calm those fears after receiving assurances from the Attorney-General, Dr. Dominic Ayine, that due process would be followed.

“So I told him I wanted to meet Ken and give him the assurance that he will be taken through the legal process, because the Attorney-General gave me that assurance,” he said.

Despite these reassurances, the ambassador noted that the former finance minister remains uneasy about his fate, with concerns that the outcome of the case could lead to imprisonment.

Meanwhile, the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has released a statement on Mr. Ofori-Atta’s immigration status.

ICE said he entered the United States on May 28, 2025, on a visitor’s visa which expired on November 27, 2025.

“Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta is an illegal alien from Ghana facing corruption-related charges in his home country,” ICE stated, adding that he overstayed his permitted period of admission.

The agency further indicated that Mr. Ofori-Atta will remain in custody while he goes through the due process of law, as legal uncertainties continue to cloud his future both in Ghana and in the United States.

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