By Ayomide Otitoju
The United States has granted permanent residency to former Ghanaian Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, his lawyer confirmed on Tuesday, bringing an end to months of legal and immigration proceedings involving the former official.
Ofori-Atta, 66, has been in the United States since January last year for medical treatment, including prostate cancer surgery. He was later detained by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while seeking to extend his stay in the country.
According to his lawyer, Justice Kusi-Minkah Premo, the U.S. Immigration Court approved his I-485 petition for adjustment of status, granting him a green card.
“The Court finds the criminal charges in Ghana not credible,” the lawyer said, adding that the ruling focused on whether Ofori-Atta met the legal requirements for residency adjustment.
Ofori-Atta was declared a fugitive by authorities in Ghana in February 2025 and formally charged with corruption in November.
He served as Finance Minister from 2017 to 2024 under former President Nana Akufo-Addo, overseeing major tax reforms and negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The case has drawn political attention in Ghana, where current President John Mahama has intensified anti-corruption efforts, though critics argue some actions have been politically motivated.
