Ken Ofori-Atta Bond Hearing Today: US Judge Demands Extradition Evidence

Introduction

On February 19, 2026, a pivotal hearing will unfold in a United States federal courtroom concerning former Ghanaian Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta. The hearing focuses on Ofori-Atta’s request for bond (bail) while he remains in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). U.S. Magistrate Judge David A. Gardey has made it unequivocally clear that the court cannot consider releasing Ofori-Atta based solely on assertions; instead, Ghanaian authorities must submit formal, documented evidence of their extradition request by the hearing date. This demand highlights the stringent evidentiary standards required in extradition and immigration detention cases, where the stakes involve both individual liberty and international legal cooperation.

Ken Ofori-Atta, who served as Ghana’s Minister of Finance from 2017 to 2024 under the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government, has been detained by ICE since early January 2026. His detention stems from the revocation of his U.S. visa, leaving him without lawful immigration status