Former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has secured a significant legal victory in the United States after an immigration court approved his application for lawful permanent residency, commonly known as a green card.
The ruling, delivered on June 15, 2026, relates to Mr Ofori-Atta’s I-485 petition, a key component in the process of obtaining permanent resident status in the United States. The decision comes at a time when the former minister remains the subject of multiple criminal investigations in Ghana, raising questions about the implications of the ruling for ongoing efforts to have him return to face questioning.
According to a press release issued by his legal representatives, the US Immigration Court reviewed evidence relating to actions taken by Ghana’s Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), including its previous declaration of Mr Ofori-Atta as a fugitive from justice. The declaration was reportedly made while the former finance minister was undergoing medical treatment in the United States.
The court was informed that despite his absence from Ghana, Mr Ofori-Atta’s lawyers had remained in communication with investigators and relevant authorities regarding the ongoing investigations. His legal team argued that the circumstances surrounding the fugitive declaration did not accurately reflect his level of engagement with the investigative process.
In a statement signed by solicitor Justice Kusi-Minkah Premo, the court was said to have found the criminal allegations brought against Mr Ofori-Atta in Ghana to be lacking credibility within the context of the immigration proceedings. However, the statement emphasized that the court’s ruling was limited to determining whether the former minister met the legal requirements for adjustment of status under US immigration law and was not a final judgment on the criminal matters themselves.
The proceedings also reportedly featured testimony from an individual with expertise in international policing and INTERPOL procedures. The witness is said to have questioned aspects of the process used by Ghanaian authorities in their efforts to pursue the former minister through international channels.
Mr Ofori-Atta is currently facing several allegations linked to financial management and procurement decisions made during his tenure as Finance Minister. Among the allegations under investigation is a contract awarded to Strategic Mobilisation Limited, which authorities claim resulted in significant financial losses to the state estimated at more than GH¢1.4 billion.
The OSP intensified efforts to secure Mr Ofori-Atta’s cooperation in 2025 after alleging that he had failed to respond to repeated invitations for questioning. This led to steps being taken toward an INTERPOL Red Notice request. However, the notice was subsequently removed from INTERPOL’s records, a development that has been cited by his legal team in challenging the actions of Ghanaian authorities.
The latest ruling is expected to generate further debate over the legal and diplomatic dimensions of the case. While the approval of his permanent residency application strengthens Mr Ofori-Atta’s position in the United States, Ghanaian authorities have maintained that investigations into the former minister will continue and that he remains wanted in connection with ongoing criminal probes.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor is yet to officially respond to the US immigration court’s decision.
Source:tolonradio.com
