Crime

US Immigration Court grants Ghana's fugitive former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta permanent residency — dealing a major blow to Accra's corruption case The United States Immigration Court has granted former Ghana Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta permanent residency — commonly known as a Green Card — in a major legal development that directly challenges Ghana's corruption case against him. Ofori-Atta's attorney Justice Kusi-Minkah Premo confirmed the ruling in a statement saying: "Ken Ofori-Atta's Green Card I-485 petition has been granted by US Immigration Court. The Court finds the criminal charges in Ghana not credible." The attorney added that the decision was focused on whether Ofori-Atta met the legal requirements for adjustment of status. Ofori-Atta, 66, served as Ghana's Finance Minister from 2017 to 2024 under former President Nana Akufo-Addo. He has been in the United States since January 2025 receiving medical treatment including prostate cancer surgery. He was declared a fugitive by Ghanaian authorities in February 2025 and formally charged with corruption in November 2025. He was arrested by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement in January 2026 over the status of his stay, then released on a $65,000 bail bond in April 2026. INTERPOL also permanently deleted its Red Notice against him in February 2026, ruling it was of a predominantly political character. The Green Card ruling means Ofori-Atta can now legally remain in the United States permanently — making any Ghana extradition effort significantly more difficult.

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