Former Ghanaian Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has been granted permanent residency in the United States, his lawyer announced on Tuesday, June 16, months after he was arrested by US immigration authorities and declared a fugitive by authorities in Ghana.
Ofori-Atta, 66, has been residing in the United States since January 2025, where he travelled to receive medical treatment, including surgery for prostate cancer.
His stay in the country came under scrutiny earlier this year when he was arrested by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while seeking to extend his stay. At the time, his legal team said the arrest was related to his immigration status and not to the criminal allegations he faces in Ghana.
In a statement released Tuesday, his attorney, Justice Kusi-Minkah Premo, confirmed that a US immigration court had approved Ofori-Atta’s application for permanent residency. “Ken Ofori-Atta’s Green Card I-485 petition has been granted by the US Immigration Court.” Premo also claimed that the court found the corruption allegations against his client to be lacking credibility. “The Court finds the criminal charges in Ghana not credible.”
However, he noted that the ruling was primarily based on immigration requirements rather than a determination of guilt or innocence. “The decision was focused on whether Mr Ofori-Atta met the legal requirements for adjustment of status.”
Ofori-Atta’s legal troubles in Ghana began after he was declared a fugitive by Ghanaian authorities in February 2025. He was later formally charged with corruption in November of the same year.
The former minister served as Ghana’s finance minister from 2017 to 2024 under former President Nana Akufo-Addo. During his tenure, he oversaw major economic policies, including controversial tax reforms and negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) aimed at stabilising Ghana’s economy.
The corruption case against him is part of a wider anti-corruption campaign launched by President John Mahama’s administration. While the government has defended the crackdown as an effort to improve accountability, critics have accused it of selectively targeting political opponents.
The granting of permanent residency means Ofori-Atta can continue to reside legally in the United States as legal proceedings against him continue in Ghana.
