ICE Officers Grab Ken Ofori-Atta Outside His Washington DC Residence

In a dramatic scene that played out on the streets of America's capital, former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta found himself in the custody of U.S. immigration enforcement officers as he simply stepped outside his building.

New details have surfaced about the shocking detention of Ghana's former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, revealing how U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers moved in to apprehend him outside his Washington, D.C. residence on Tuesday, January 6, 2026. The information comes from eyewitness accounts gathered by investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni, who has been piecing together what happened during those tense moments.

The scene unfolded at the Westlight building in Washington, D.C., where Ofori-Atta had been residing during his time in the United States. According to people who witnessed the incident firsthand and spoke with Azure Awuni, the former minister was going about what appeared to be a normal day when ICE officers made their move.

Eyewitnesses paint a picture of a carefully planned operation. As Ofori-Atta stepped out of the building—perhaps for a routine errand or appointment—ICE officers were waiting. Those present at the scene described the arrest as far from random, characterizing it instead as a targeted operation that had clearly been coordinated in advance.

The arrest has sent shockwaves through Ghana's political circles and raised numerous questions about the circumstances leading to the detention. While ICE handles a range of immigration-related enforcement activities in the United States, the specific reasons for Ofori-Atta's detention and the charges he may be facing remain subjects of intense speculation and investigation.

The Westlight building, located in Washington's bustling cityscape, became the unlikely backdrop for this high-profile arrest. For a man who once controlled Ghana's national purse strings and made decisions affecting millions of citizens, being detained on foreign soil marks a dramatic turn of events.

Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has been working to uncover the full story behind the detention, speaking with witnesses and gathering accounts from those who saw the arrest happen. His reporting has provided the most detailed picture yet of how one of Ghana's most prominent political figures ended up in ICE custody.

The fact that eyewitnesses were present and able to provide detailed accounts suggests the arrest happened in a public or semi-public space, adding another layer to an already complex situation. These witnesses have become crucial sources of information as journalists and the public try to understand exactly what transpired.

As news of the detention continues to spread, many Ghanaians are asking what comes next for the former Finance Minister. Will he face legal proceedings in the United States? Are there immigration violations at play, or could this be connected to other investigations? What does this mean for Ghana's ongoing efforts to address corruption and financial accountability?

The arrest also raises broader questions about the vulnerability of public officials traveling or residing abroad, particularly those who served in high-stakes positions managing national resources. For Ofori-Atta, who steered Ghana's economy through turbulent times, including the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent economic challenges, this detention represents an unexpected chapter in his post-ministerial life.

As more information emerges and the legal process unfolds, Ghanaians both at home and in the diaspora will be watching closely to see how this situation develops. The coming days and weeks may provide answers to the many questions swirling around this high-profile detention in Washington, D.C.