Ghana’s former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, who is being sought by authorities in Ghana over allegations of corruption, has been granted permanent residency in the United States.
Ofori-Atta, 66, has been in the United States since January 2025, where he has been undergoing medical treatment, including surgery for prostate cancer. His legal team had previously indicated that he was seeking an extension of his stay in the country.
The decision was delivered on Monday, June 15, 2026, during proceedings in which a U.S. Immigration Court considered Mr Ofori-Atta’s I-485 petition, the principal application for adjustment to lawful permanent resident status in the United States.
According to his lawyer, Frank Davies, the court reviewed issues relating to the criminal investigations and charges currently facing the former minister in Ghana, including his earlier designation as a fugitive from justice by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
The court heard that the fugitive declaration was issued while Mr Ofori-Atta was receiving medical treatment in the United States and at a time when his legal representatives were actively engaging with investigators in Ghana on his behalf.
A witness with expertise in international policing and INTERPOL procedures also testified during the proceedings, reportedly raising concerns about aspects of the process adopted by Ghanaian authorities in pursuing the case.
Ofori-Atta served as Ghana’s Finance Minister from 2017 to 2024 under the administration of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
His tenure was marked by significant economic reforms, contentious tax measures, and negotiations with the International Monetary Fund aimed at stabilising Ghana’s economy amid mounting fiscal challenges.
The ruling represents a significant development in Ofori-Atta’s legal and immigration status, even as investigations and legal proceedings concerning him continue in Ghana.
Ofori-Atta and five others face more than 70 criminal charges stemming from multiple corruption investigations. Among them are allegations that a contract awarded to Strategic Mobilisation Limited resulted in a financial loss exceeding GH¢1.4 billion to the state.
