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Ghana’s Ex-Finance Minister Detained by ICE in U.S

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Ken Ofori-Atta
Ghana's former Finance Minister, Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta
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Ghana’s former Finance Minister, Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta, has been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This development occurred on January 6, 2026, with his lawyers confirming the detention the following day (January 7). He is currently held at the Caroline Detention Facility in Virginia, and a court hearing is reportedly scheduled for January 20, 2026.

Ken Ofori-Atta

Letter of detention

 

Key Details

  • Reason for Detention: Reports indicate issues related to his immigration status, including overstaying his visa or a revoked visa. Some sources (including Ghana’s Deputy Attorney General) clarify that his U.S. visa was revoked in mid-2025 (around June/July), with a deadline to leave by late November 2025. He had been in the U.S. since January 2025, initially for medical treatment (including prostate cancer surgery), and had applied to regularize or extend his stay.

 

  • His Lawyers’ Statement: They describe him as cooperating fully with authorities and expect the matter to be resolved “expeditiously.” He was reportedly arrested during a targeted operation while leaving a luxury apartment in Washington, D.C.

 

  • Ghanaian Government Involvement: Ofori-Atta has been a fugitive in Ghana since February 2025, declared wanted by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) on multiple corruption-related charges (including conspiracy to commit procurement fraud, causing financial loss to the state, and involvement in scandals like the SML case). He faces dozens of counts and was placed on an Interpol Red Notice. Ghana formally requested his extradition from the U.S. in late 2025. While the current detention is immigration-related, some officials suggest it ties into cooperation on the extradition process.

 

  • Ghana Embassy Response: The Embassy in Washington, D.C., confirmed the detention, requested consular access, and is engaging U.S. authorities to ensure his rights are respected. However, Ofori-Atta declined to meet consular officials without his lawyers present.

 

This case has sparked significant discussion in Ghana, with reactions ranging from calls for swift extradition and justice to speculation about his future (e.g., possible deportation, asylum attempts on health grounds, or resolution of his U.S. status). The situation remains ongoing, with his legal team working to address the immigration issues.

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Mahama Tours Media Houses, Condemns Assault on Reporter

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Pres. John Mahama
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On January 8, 2026, President John Dramani Mahama began a nationwide tour of selected media houses in Ghana, starting with a visit to the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) in Accra. The tour aims to promote accountability, strengthen public trust, and enhance cooperation between the government and the media.
During the visit, President Mahama strongly condemned recent attacks on journalists, particularly the assault on a Class Media Group (Class FM) reporter, Samuel Addo, allegedly by personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) on January 5, 2026. As a trained journalist himself, Mahama described such violence as “unacceptable” and stated that it “has no place in a democratic society.” He emphasized that his administration will not tolerate assaults on media professionals performing their duties.
He confirmed that the involved GNFS officers have been identified and interdicted, with ongoing investigations to ensure accountability. The President vowed to crack down on attacks against journalists and pledged a safe working environment for media practitioners.
This incident and Mahama’s response have drawn widespread support, including from organizations like the Global Media Foundation (GloMeF), which praised his prompt action.

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Mahama’s New Year Address Calls for Unity and 2026 Reforms

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President of Ghana
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On January 1, 2026, President John Dramani Mahama delivered his New Year’s message to the nation from the Jubilee House in Accra, reflecting on the progress made in his administration’s first year in office (following the 2024 elections) and outlining an ambitious vision for the year ahead.

The President declared that Ghana is “rising again” after inheriting a nation in economic distress in January 2025.

He highlighted achievements such as sharp reductions in inflation (projected to end 2025 in single digits around 5%), relative currency stability, restored business confidence, and prudent debt renegotiations, all under the government’s Reset Agenda.

A central theme was national unity. President Mahama passionately urged Ghanaians to transcend partisan divisions, stating:
“There is no NPP Ghana. There is no NDC Ghana. There is only one Ghana.”

He called for rejecting divisive politics, embracing mutual respect, and focusing on collective nation-building, emphasizing that “we are one people with a shared destiny” and that the Reset is for all citizens, regardless of political affiliation.

Looking to 2026, Mahama unveiled a bold roadmap for accelerated reforms and development, including:

  • Strengthening social protection and universal health coverage via free primary healthcare.
  • Economic transformation through job creation, agricultural mechanization, and value addition.
  • Affordable social housing via public-private partnerships.
  • 30% renewable energy in the national mix to reduce costs and promote sustainability.
  • Intensified anti-corruption efforts with “no sacred cows.”
  • Implementation of Constitutional Review Committee recommendations to deepen democracy.
  • Continued digitalization in education and infrastructure improvements.

The address positioned 2026 as a year of scaling up initiatives for inclusive growth, accountability, and positioning Ghana as a leader in African democratic renewal through initiatives like the Accra Reset Initiative presented at the UN.

The message resonated widely, with analysts noting its focus on governance reset and shared responsibility, concluding with a call for hope, prosperity, peace, and progress in 2026.

 

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Ghanaian Prophet Predicts Black Stars World Cup Finals Glory

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Renowned Ghanaian prophet Nigel Gaisie has declared during his church’s 31st-night crossover service on December 31, 2025 (into January 1, 2026), that Ghana’s Black Stars will reach the final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

He stated confidently: “The Black Stars will reach the final of the 2026 World Cup,” envisioning a historic performance for the team in the tournament co-hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico.

This comes as Ghana is drawn in a tough Group L with England, Croatia, and Panama, and is set for their fifth World Cup appearance after qualifying.

The prophecy has generated buzz across Ghanaian media and social platforms, with many fans excited about the prospect of glory—especially after past disappointments like early exits in 2014 and 2022.

 

The big questions

The Ghana Police Service (GPS) has consistently warned religious leaders against delivering prophecies that cause fear, alarm, or panic during crossover (31st-night) services, a policy in place for several years under Ghanaian law (e.g., offenses related to false publications or misleading communications, punishable by up to 5 years imprisonment).

While no new explicit police statement was issued specifically for December 31, 2025, the longstanding caution remains in effect.

This was reinforced through actions like the arrest of self-proclaimed prophet Evans Eshun (aka Ebo Noah) on December 31, 2025, for his doomsday flood predictions that caused widespread public panic.

Ebo Noah

Evans Eshun (aka Ebo Noah)

Additionally, the National Peace Council urged prophets in late December 2025 to deliver messages “tactfully” and measurably to avoid disturbing public peace.

Regarding Prophet Nigel Gaisie’s prophecy about the Black Stars reaching the 2026 World Cup final (delivered during his 31st-night service), it appears to have been a positive, hopeful declaration rather than one inducing fear. Such uplifting prophecies typically do not fall under the police’s primary concerns, which focus on doom, death, or disaster predictions.

No reports indicate police action against Nigel Gaisie for this specific prophecy. He has historically pushed back against such warnings, often proceeding with his declarations (sometimes in coded form in past years).

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