Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has disclosed that the arrest of Ghana’s former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, in the United States was the result of a targeted operation, according to sources who witnessed the incident.
Speaking in an interview on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, January 10, Manasseh said he does not personally track Ofori-Atta but relies on detailed accounts from credible sources familiar with the arrest.
According to Manasseh, sources indicated that the arrest took place in Washington, D.C., at a luxury apartment complex known as the Westlight Building, located at 111, 24th Street. He described the area as an upscale neighbourhood, approximately a 20-minute walk from the White House.
He said the Westlight Building is believed to be the residence of Ken Ofori-Atta and some members of his family, including his wife and son.
Manasseh further noted that the apartment complex is known for housing high-profile individuals, adding that former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris lived in the same building prior to her election. He stated that Harris’s two-bedroom apartment in the building was reportedly sold for about US$1.85 million in April 2025, underscoring the exclusivity of the property.
Giving a detailed account of the arrest, Manasseh said sources told him the former finance minister was picked up on Tuesday morning at about 11 a.m. while he was moving out of the building.
“As soon as he stepped outside, agents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) surrounded him, put him into a vehicle and drove him away,” he said.
According to the account, Mr Ofori-Atta was transported to the Caroline Detention Center in Virginia, located approximately 89 miles from the site of the arrest — a journey Manasseh said took about an hour and a half.
He stressed that the nature of the arrest suggests it was not a routine or mass operation.
“Sometimes ICE officials conduct raids or mass arrests, but everything I’m hearing from sources who were present shows this was a targeted operation,” Manasseh stated. “It appeared to be an ambush. They waited for him to emerge, surrounded him, and immediately drove him away.”
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Source: www.myjoyonline.com
