Former Ghanaian Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has been granted permanent residency in the United States, according to his lawyer, months after he was detained by U.S. immigration authorities and declared a fugitive by Ghanaian officials.
Ofori-Atta, 66, has been living in the United States since January 2025, where he travelled for medical treatment, including surgery for prostate cancer.
His stay came under scrutiny earlier this year after he was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while attempting to extend his residency. His legal team maintained that the arrest was linked to immigration procedures rather than the corruption allegations he faces in Ghana.
In a statement on Tuesday, his lawyer, Justice Kusi-Minkah Premo, confirmed that a U.S. immigration court had approved his Green Card application.
“Ken Ofori-Atta’s I-485 petition for permanent residency has been granted by the U.S. Immigration Court,” the lawyer said, adding that the court found the corruption allegations from Ghana to be lacking credibility.
However, he clarified that the ruling was based on immigration criteria rather than a judgment on criminal liability. “The decision was focused on whether Mr. Ofori-Atta met the legal requirements for adjustment of status,” he added.
Ofori-Atta was declared a fugitive by Ghanaian authorities in February 2025 and was later formally charged with corruption in November of the same year.
He served as Ghana’s finance minister from 2017 to 2024 under former President Nana Akufo-Addo, overseeing key economic policies, including tax reforms and negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The case against him forms part of a broader anti-corruption drive under President John Mahama’s administration, which has defended the campaign as a push for accountability, while critics argue it risks political bias.
The granting of permanent residency allows Ofori-Atta to remain legally in the United States as legal proceedings continue in Ghana.
