Frank Davies, a member of Ofori-Atta’s Legal team has urged pressure group, Arise Ghana to end their protest at the U.S Embassy in Accra to demand the return of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta to Ghana so he can face justice.
Arise Ghana protesters gathered outside the embassy on Tuesday and Wednesday demanding that the U.S. authorities work with Ghanaian institutions to secure Mr. Ofori-Atta’s return.
The group claims that the protest was intended to emphasize their demand that the former finance minister “return to Ghana to face justice.”
Reacting to the protest in an interview on JoyNews, Wednesday, January 21, 2026, Frank Davies noted that the demonstration will have no influence on the U.S authorities hearing the immigration status case.
“I said yesterday that freedom of expression, freedom of speech, freedom of association is fundamental. I cannot begrudge what they are doing but if the proceedings of yesterday (Tuesday night) is anything to go by, I will urge Arise Ghana to temporarily halt what they are doing because this will not change anything in America.
“It is unfortunate but that is the plain truth,” he stated.
He continued: “Holding of placards and running up and down the streets of cantonments on the precincts of the American Embassy and chanting and singing war songs and saying all kinds of things about Ken, some very insidious comments and all that will not change anything.”
He called on the group and all Ghanaians to patiently await the outcome of the hearing of the immigration status case and the extradition request.
“The law works in America as it should work in Ghana. And for the extradition request, I think we should all wait for that to be determined. Picketing at the American Embassy, I don’t know what it is meant to achieve and I thin we should cut a nice international picture about ourselves” he added.
On January 7, the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested and detained Mr Ofori-Atta.
A Public Notice issued by his lawyers, Menka-Premo, Osei-Bonsu, Bruce-Cathline and Partners on January 7 said the US legal team is in contact with ICE and expects the matter to be resolved expeditiously.
“Mr. Ofori-Atta has a pending petition for adjustment of status, which authorizes a person to stay in the US legally past the period of validity of their visa. Under US law, a change of status by this method is common,” the lawyers explained.
“The Public is therefore advised to note that Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta as a law-abiding person is fully cooperating with ICE to have this issue resolved,” they said.
He is currently in the US seeking medical care for a long-standing illness.
Later, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine and his deputy, Justice Srem Sai revealed that Mr Ofori-Atta US visa was revoked in June 2025.
Speaking on TV3’s The KeyPoints, Justice Srem Sai said that the US visa was revoked contrary to the report that the visa had expired.
“ICE will not come for you unless you have visa issues, that is what has happened, he explained.
“June 2025, his visa was revoked; it’s not an expiration of the Visa. The information we have is that his visa was revoked. So he has been living in America without a visa,” he revealed.
Information available indicate that a US visa can be revoked if the holder becomes ineligible for it. This can happen if they violate their status, commit fraud, or otherwise fall under a ground of inadmissibility.
The court hearing is therefore to determine whether Mr Ofori-Atta should be allowed to stay in the US or be deported.
Source:Fiilafmonline/3News
