How Ken Ofori-Atta was arrested in targeted operation from his expensive apartment occupied by prominent people
Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has shed new light on the arrest of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta in the United States, describing the operation as a carefully planned and targeted action rather than a routine immigration sweep.
Speaking on The Big Issue on Channel One TV on Saturday, January 10, 2026, Manasseh said multiple sources who witnessed the incident confirmed that Mr Ofori Atta was arrested at the Westlight building, a luxury residential complex located at 1111 24th Street in Northwest Washington DC.
He explained that the Westlight is situated in one of the most exclusive neighbourhoods in the US capital, roughly a 20 minute walk from the White House, and is believed to be the residence of the former finance minister, his wife and son.
According to Manasseh, the building is known for housing influential and high profile personalities. He cited former United States Vice President Kamala Harris as one of its notable former residents, noting that she lived in a two bedroom apartment in the same complex before her election and later sold the property for about 1.85 million dollars.
Manasseh disclosed that although it remains unclear whether Mr Ofori Atta owns or rents the apartment, credible sources indicate that he had been living there consistently until the morning of January 6, when law enforcement officers reportedly surrounded the building and took him into custody.
He said the arrest took place around 11 a.m. on Tuesday as the former minister was exiting the facility.
“He was arrested at the Westlight building, which is located at 1111,24th Street in Northwest Washington, D.C., and we are told this is a very expensive residential area in Washington, D.C., located about 20 minutes’ walk from the White House.
“Some of the people who have lived in this facility include the immediate past Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris. She had a two bedroom apartment in this building and moved out when she was elected Vice President. We know the cost of that facility, I mean, the two bedroom apartment in that complex, she sold it for $1.85 million at the time she was leaving.
“So we’re told it’s a very expensive facility, secure, and prominent people live there. We don’t know whether Ken Ofori Atta has bought the facility or he’s renting, but sources say this is where he’s been living, going in and out, until the morning of January 6, when the authorities surrounded him and drove him to his current detention centre,” he said.
Manasseh stressed that the nature of the arrest points clearly to a deliberate and targeted operation. He explained that officers from the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency are usually associated with large scale arrests conducted in public spaces such as factories and crowded areas.
“When we talk about ICE, I think those who watch foreign news and sometimes social media, these officials go around to enforce the immigration policy of the US. So most of their activity, sometimes they go to public places, factories, and other places to do mass sweeps and arrests. But in the case of Ken Ofori Atta, we are hearing it was like a targeted operation.
“It wasn’t like a mass sweep, and as we know, this is a high end residential complex. So it appears they went there purposely to arrest him, and once they got him into the car, they moved,” he added.