The United States has granted permanent residency to former Ghanaian Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, marking a significant development in a legal and political saga that has attracted attention in both Ghana and the United States.
Ofori-Atta’s lawyer, Justice Kusi-Minkah Premo, disclosed the development on Tuesday, stating that a US immigration court approved his client’s application for permanent residency.
According to the lawyer, the former minister’s Green Card petition was granted after the court determined that he met the legal requirements for adjustment of status.
“Ken Ofori-Atta’s Green Card I-485 petition has been granted by the US Immigration Court,” Premo said in a statement.
He further claimed that the court found the criminal allegations against Ofori-Atta in Ghana to be lacking credibility, although he emphasized that the ruling was primarily based on immigration considerations.
“The Court finds the criminal charges in Ghana not credible,” Premo stated, adding that the decision “was focused on whether Mr. Ofori-Atta met the legal requirements for adjustment of status.”
The 66-year-old former finance minister has been in the United States since January 2025, where he travelled to receive medical treatment, including surgery for prostate cancer.
His stay in the country, however, came under scrutiny earlier this year when he was arrested by officials of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while seeking an extension of his stay.
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At the time, his legal representatives maintained that the arrest was related to immigration status issues and not the corruption allegations he faces in Ghana.
Ofori-Atta was declared a fugitive by Ghanaian authorities in February 2025 and was formally charged with corruption in November of the same year.
The former minister served as Ghana’s finance minister from 2017 to 2024 under the administration of former President Nana Akufo-Addo.
During his tenure, he played a central role in implementing major economic reforms, including controversial tax policies and negotiations with the International Monetary Fund aimed at stabilising Ghana’s economy.
The corruption charges against him emerged under the administration of President John Mahama, whose government has intensified anti-corruption efforts since assuming office.
While the Mahama administration has defended its anti-graft campaign as a necessary step toward strengthening accountability and public trust, critics have accused the government of selectively targeting political opponents.
The granting of permanent residency to Ofori-Atta is expected to add a new dimension to ongoing discussions surrounding the corruption case, particularly regarding any future attempts by Ghanaian authorities to secure his return to face legal proceedings.
As of Tuesday, Ghanaian authorities had not publicly responded to the US court’s decision.