A United States court has restricted public access to the immigration hearing involving former Ghanaian Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta after his legal team requested that sensitive matters in the case be discussed privately.
The judge overseeing the proceedings asked one of Mr. Ofori-Atta’s lawyers, Christopher Chaisson, whether he wanted the hearing closed to the public. Chaisson confirmed the request and thanked the judge for raising the matter.
This decision means that the hearing — initially available for public observation — will now take place behind closed doors, with only the involved parties allowed to participate.
Mr. Ofori-Atta was detained earlier this month by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on allegations that he was in the country without lawful status. U.S. authorities have said they may pursue deportation, while Ghanaian state bodies including the Attorney-General’s office and the Office of the Special Prosecutor are seeking his return to Ghana for prosecution over alleged wrongdoing.
The shift to a private hearing follows the legal team’s assertion that sensitive issues will be discussed during the proceedings, justifying the closure to protect those matters from public disclosure.
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