Ken Ofori-Atta Secures US Permanent Residency as Ghana’s Special Prosecutor Reaffirms Intent to Prosecute

Former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has been granted lawful permanent residency in the United States, a development that has ignited a legal and political firestorm in Ghana. A US immigration court approved Ofori-Atta’s Green Card petition on June 16, 2026, reportedly finding that the criminal charges leveled against him by Ghana’s Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) were not credible within the specific context of his immigration status adjustment. The ruling follows Ofori-Atta's prolonged stay in the US for medical treatment, during which time Ghanaian authorities declared him a fugitive from justice for failing to appear for questioning regarding alleged financial irregularities during his tenure, including contracts linked to Strategic Mobilisation Limited.

In response to the US ruling, the OSP issued a clarification stating that it was not a party to the immigration proceedings and that the court's decision does not exonerate Ofori-Atta from ongoing criminal investigations. The OSP emphasized that the determination of the credibility of charges rests solely with Ghanaian courts and affirmed that Ofori-Atta remains a Ghanaian citizen subject to extradition. Legal experts, including private practitioners Martin Kpebu and Amanda Clinton, have noted that while the new residency status does not provide immunity, it significantly complicates extradition efforts. They suggest the Green Card grants Ofori-Atta enhanced legal protections and allows his high-profile defense team, which includes former US Attorney General John Ashcroft, to leverage humanitarian and health-related arguments to prolong the process.

The news has triggered sharp reactions from across Ghana’s political spectrum. Davis Ansah Opoku, Vice Chairperson of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee, has called for Ofori-Atta to be tried in absentia, arguing that accountability should not be delayed by his physical absence. Conversely, former Kumbungu MP Ras Mubarak urged President John Mahama to take a hardline stance by halting all defense cooperation and pending extradition requests with the US until the former minister is returned. These developments occur amidst a broader debate over judicial independence, as the New Patriotic Party (NPP) accuses the government of "selective justice" regarding the conviction of former MASLOC CEO Sedina Tamakloe Attionu and the removal of former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.

As the legal stalemate continues, the OSP indicates that the US Department of Justice has yet to confirm the formal service of criminal charges to Ofori-Atta. While Ofori-Atta’s legal team maintains his innocence, the OSP continues to pursue extradition through Ghana’s Attorney-General. The outcome of this case remains a pivotal test for Ghana’s anti-corruption framework and international diplomatic relations, particularly as former Deputy Attorney-General Alfred Tuah-Yeboah suggests that future administrations may reopen high-profile cases that some claim are currently being politicized.