A Ghanaian national with a previous conviction for credit card fraud was taken into custody in Columbus, Ohio, after attempting to obtain U.S. immigration benefits while concealing his criminal record, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) confirmed. Discrepancies in his application prompted Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers to intervene and detain him.
This arrest comes amid heightened scrutiny of Ghanaian officials in the U.S. Former MASLOC CEO Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu and ex-Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta were also detained over financial crimes and immigration irregularities. Tamakloe-Attionu, sentenced in absentia in 2024 to 10 years for embezzlement and money laundering, was arrested by U.S. Marshals on January 6, 2026, and is being held in Nevada.
Ken Ofori-Atta, who overstayed his U.S. visa, faces 78 corruption charges in Ghana. His lawyers confirmed ongoing discussions with ICE regarding his pending status adjustment petition, while Ghana’s Attorney General has submitted an extradition request for him and his former chief of staff, Ernest Akore.
The arrests highlight Ghana’s ongoing efforts to repatriate officials facing financial crimes convictions while raising attention to immigration compliance in the U.S. If extradited, Tamakloe-Attionu will return to Ghana to serve her sentence or pursue appeals.
