Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States has disclosed that United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement medically cleared former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta for detention before admitting him into custody.

Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Monday, Mr Victor Smith 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 centre.

“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,” he said.

Mr Smith explained that although the former minister was on medication at the time, he was not under active medical supervision and had access to his prescribed drugs while in detention.

“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,” he stated.

According to the Ambassador, the assessment was conducted by medical personnel attached to the detention facility and not by ICE officers themselves.

“They had caused him to be assessed by the medical personnel, not themselves,” he said.

Mr Smith added that ICE told him detainees with serious health conditions are usually referred to external medical facilities rather than 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.

The Ambassador said Ghana’s embassy later sought consular access to Mr Ofori Atta to confirm his well being but was unable to meet him after he declined to see officials 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 over questions relating to the status of his stay in the United States. His legal team has confirmed that he is cooperating fully with authorities and has a pending petition for adjustment of status.