Former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has had his passport confiscated following his release on bail by a US immigration court, as deportation proceedings against him continue.

He is scheduled to reappear in court on April 27, 2026, amid ongoing legal uncertainties linked to missing documentation and jurisdictional delays.

His release was granted after his legal team successfully argued that, in the absence of a formal extradition request from Ghana on record, the court could not classify him as a flight risk—a key consideration in bail decisions.

The bail was secured through a private bond company, reportedly for a substantial amount.

At an earlier hearing in March, the presiding judge had specifically requested a copy of Ghana’s extradition request before ruling on the bail application, indicating that such documentation would be critical in determining whether Ofori-Atta posed a risk of absconding.

However, sources familiar with the case say the US Attorney General has yet to provide the extradition request to the State Attorney for submission to the court, with reasons for the delay remaining unclear.

“In the absence of sighting a copy of the extradition request, he could not be deemed a flight risk,” a source close to the proceedings explained.

Ofori-Atta was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on January 6, 2026, and detained at the Caroline Detention Facility in Virginia.

Meanwhile, Ghana’s Office of the Special Prosecutor continues to pursue a corruption case against the former minister and is awaiting further developments regarding his possible return to face trial.

The case remains ongoing, with attention now focused on whether the required extradition documentation will be submitted before the next court appearance.