Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, Victor Emmanuel Smith, has disclosed that former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, is reluctant to return to Ghana due to fears about how he would be treated upon arrival, a concern that has led him to remain in the United States.
According to Ambassador Smith, the apprehension was conveyed to him by Mr Ofori-Atta’s cousin, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, during a telephone conversation.
“Gabby called me and said Ken wants to come, but he is afraid of how he will be treated,” Mr Smith said in an interview on TV3’s KeyPoints on Saturday, January 17.
The Ambassador said he responded by seeking to meet Mr Ofori-Atta in person to assure him that due process would be followed if he returned to Ghana.
“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, Dr Dominic Ayine, gave me that assurance,” he stated.
Mr Smith’s comments appear to lend weight to a recent publication by The Herald, which cited family sources as saying that former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo had sought to engage President John Dramani Mahama to plead for what was described as a “soft landing” for Mr Ofori-Atta, rather than subjecting him to arrest, handcuffing and detention.
The former Finance Minister is scheduled to appear before a United States court on Monday, January 20, 2026, where a determination is expected regarding his status. Ambassador Smith confirmed that the hearing will be conducted virtually.
“The only thing I know is that Ken’s hearing will be virtual, and I am also informed that he has been moved from the detention centre where he was before,” he said. “I haven’t been briefed as to why it is a virtual court hearing; I guess it is something they do these days.”
Mr Smith declined to comment on the legal basis on which a US court might allow Mr Ofori-Atta to remain in the country solely on the grounds of fear of arrest should he return to Ghana.
Beyond the Ofori-Atta matter, the Ambassador said he was also engaged in efforts to improve the welfare and prospects of Ghanaian youth in the United States, with a view to reducing their vulnerability to harsh treatment by law enforcement agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
These remarks were made in the context of economic and agribusiness engagements with Senator Scott Martin of Pennsylvania. Ambassador Smith used the opportunity to highlight Ghana’s strategic position as a gateway to the wider African market and the investment opportunities this presents.
He underscored the urgent need for Ghana to reduce its heavy dependence on food imports, which he said continues to exert significant pressure on the country’s foreign exchange reserves. Rice imports alone, he noted, account for a substantial portion of foreign exchange outflows, making investment in domestic agricultural production a national priority.
Senator Martin outlined Pennsylvania’s agricultural strategy and identified several areas of potential collaboration in agribusiness, expressing interest in partnering with the Government of Ghana for mutual benefit.
Speaking on behalf of the US–Ghana Chamber of Commerce, Florence Torson-Hart said no other US state mirrored Ghana’s agricultural practices and production culture as closely as Pennsylvania, arguing that Ghana should be prioritised in such partnerships.
The President of Millersville University, Prof Daniel Wubah, a Ghanaian, also highlighted opportunities for collaboration, noting that shared interests and institutional alliances could make it easier for Ghana to partner with entities in Philadelphia.
The meeting placed strong emphasis on developing Ghana’s agricultural sector as a long-term solution to rising import costs. By modernising farming practices, expanding agro-processing and strengthening value chains, participants said Ghana could not only achieve food security but also position agriculture as a major driver of economic growth.
The engagement with US partners forms part of Ghana’s broader economic diplomacy agenda, aimed at attracting investment, creating jobs and promoting sustainable national development.
Source: theheraldghana.com
