Former Ghanaian Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has been granted permanent residency in the United States, his lawyer announced on Tuesday, marking a significant development in a legal and political saga that has spanned two countries.
Ofori-Atta, 66, has been residing in the United States since January 2025, where he travelled to undergo medical treatment, including surgery for prostate cancer.
His stay in the country came under scrutiny earlier this year when he was detained by US immigration authorities while seeking an extension of his residency status. At the time, his legal team said the arrest was linked to immigration procedures and not to the criminal allegations he faces in Ghana.
The former minister was declared a fugitive by Ghanaian authorities in February 2025 and was formally charged with corruption in November of the same year.
He was arrested by officials of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during the processing of his immigration application.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Ofori-Atta’s attorney, Justice Kusi-Minkah Premo, confirmed that his client’s application for adjustment of status had been approved.
“Ken Ofori-Atta’s Green Card I-485 petition has been granted by the US Immigration Court,” Premo said.
The lawyer added that the court found the criminal allegations brought against Ofori-Atta in Ghana to be lacking credibility. However, he noted that the ruling was primarily based on whether the former minister met the legal requirements for permanent residency in the United States.
Ofori-Atta served as Ghana’s finance minister from 2017 to 2024 under former President Nana Akufo-Addo. During his tenure, he oversaw major economic reforms, including controversial tax measures and negotiations with the International Monetary Fund aimed at stabilising the country’s economy.
His legal troubles emerged under the administration of President John Mahama, whose government has intensified anti-corruption efforts since returning to office. While supporters have welcomed the crackdown, critics have accused the administration of selectively targeting political opponents.
The latest development is expected to further complicate efforts by Ghanaian authorities to pursue the corruption case against the former minister.
AFP
