By Emmanuel Nduka
Former Ghanaian Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has secured permanent residency in the United States despite facing corruption charges and being declared a fugitive by authorities in his home country.
The development was confirmed on Tuesday by his lawyer, Justice Kusi-Minkah Premo, who disclosed that a US Immigration Court approved Ofori-Atta’s Green Card application, bringing to an end months of uncertainty surrounding his immigration status.
Ofori-Atta, 66, has been living in the United States since January 2025, where he travelled for medical treatment, including surgery for prostate cancer.
His stay in the country attracted attention earlier this year when he was arrested by officials of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement while seeking an extension of his stay. His legal team maintained at the time that the arrest was linked solely to immigration issues 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.
Announcing the latest court decision, Premo said: “Ken Ofori-Atta’s Green card I-485 petition has been granted by US Immigration Court.”
He added: “The Court finds the criminal charges in Ghana not credible,” while noting that the ruling was primarily based on whether Ofori-Atta met the legal requirements for an adjustment of immigration status.
Ofori-Atta served as Ghana’s finance minister from 2017 to 2024 under former President Nana Akufo-Addo. During his tenure, he spearheaded a series of controversial tax reforms and led negotiations with the International Monetary Fund as Ghana grappled with economic challenges.
The corruption case against him forms part of a broader anti-graft campaign launched by President John Mahama since returning to office. However, critics of the administration have accused the government of selectively targeting political opponents under the guise of fighting corruption.
The granting of permanent residency is expected to further complicate efforts by Ghanaian authorities to pursue the case against the former finance minister.
