Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, Victor Smith, has disclosed that the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) medically cleared former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, before placing him in detention.
Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Monday, the Ambassador said ICE arranged for medical professionals to assess Mr Ofori-Atta shortly after his arrest to determine whether he was fit to be held in a detention facility.
“Yes, the ICE people confirmed that he was all right. Initially, they had medical people to determine whether he was fit to be held in the detention centre, and they were convinced and were assured that he was okay,” Mr Smith stated.
He explained that although the former minister was on medication at the time of his detention, he was not under active medical supervision and was allowed access to his prescribed drugs.
“He was on medication, but he wasn’t seeing any doctor at the time, and he had his medication, so he could be put in the detention centre,” the Ambassador said.
Mr. Smith clarified that the medical assessment was conducted by healthcare personnel attached to the detention facility, not by ICE officers themselves.
“They had caused him to be assessed by the medical personnel, not themselves,” he noted.
According to the Ambassador, ICE further indicated that detainees with serious medical conditions are usually referred to external health facilities rather than being kept in detention centres.
“If he had any serious medical conditions, maybe they would have referred him to a medical facility outside the detention centre,” he added.
Mr Smith also disclosed that officials from Ghana’s embassy later sought consular access to Mr Ofori-Atta to check on his wellbeing but were unable to meet him after he declined to see them without his lawyers present.
“Just before we set out, the ICE agents came again and said the detainee had refused to meet with us without his lawyers,” he said.
Former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta is currently in ICE custody due to questions regarding his status in the United States. His legal team has confirmed that he is cooperating fully with authorities and has filed a pending petition for adjustment of status.
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