Ken Ofori-Atta Seeks U.S. Residency Amid Corruption Charges in Ghana

 

Ken Ofori-Atta

Lawyers representing former Ghanaian Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta say he is pursuing permanent residency in the United States rather than returning to Ghana, where he faces multiple corruption charges.

According to his lawyer, Enayat Qasimi, Ofori-Atta fears he would not receive a fair trial if he returns to Ghana. Speaking to Semafor, Qasimi said his client has a “pathway to residency” in the United States and intends to pursue it.

The former finance minister is currently being held in a U.S. immigration detention facility in Virginia after he was arrested by officials from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in January for overstaying his visa.

Immigration Case in the U.S.

Ofori-Atta first appeared before the Annandale Immigration Court earlier this year during a virtual hearing overseen by immigration judge David Gardey. The hearing focused on a bond review and the initial stage of his immigration case.

During the proceedings, Ofori-Atta appeared from the Caroline Detention Center wearing a black shirt, glasses, and a nose mask. His lawyers successfully requested that parts of the hearing be held behind closed doors, arguing that the case involved sensitive matters. The judge approved the request.

His visitor visa, which was originally due to expire in February, had already been revoked by U.S. authorities. Court records show he had previously been ordered to leave the United States by November 29 last year but failed to do so, leaving him without lawful immigration status.

Ofori-Atta is scheduled to appear again before the court on April 27 as the case continues.

Corruption Charges in Ghana

Back in Ghana, authorities have filed more than 70 criminal charges against Ofori-Atta and five other individuals. The charges stem from several corruption investigations linked to his time in office between 2017 and 2024.

One of the most significant allegations involves a contract awarded to Strategic Mobilisation Limited. Prosecutors claim the agreement led to a financial loss of more than GH¢1.4 billion for the state.

The Ghanaian government has already submitted a formal extradition request to U.S. authorities seeking Ofori-Atta’s return to face trial. However, officials from the office of the Attorney General of Ghana have declined to comment publicly on the ongoing matter.

Claims of Political Persecution

Ofori-Atta’s legal team insists the case against him is politically motivated. His lawyer argued that there are “serious questions” about the independence of Ghana’s judiciary and described the investigations as a “political witch hunt.”

The case now places both U.S. immigration authorities and Ghanaian prosecutors in a complex legal situation, as courts determine whether the former finance minister will remain in the United States or be extradited to Ghana to face the charges against him.

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