The United States has granted permanent residency to Ghana’s former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, according to his lawyer, bringing a major development in a legal and immigration saga involving the 66-year-old ex-official.
Ofori-Atta has been in the United States since January last year, where he was receiving medical treatment, including surgery for prostate cancer.
However, his stay became complicated earlier this year when US immigration authorities arrested him in January over issues related to the status of his residency application. His lawyers clarified at the time that the arrest was linked to immigration status and not his legal challenges in Ghana.
In February 2025, Ghanaian authorities declared Ofori-Atta a fugitive, and he was later formally charged with corruption in November.
According to his attorney, Justice Kusi-Minkah Premo, the US Immigration Court approved Ofori-Atta’s Green Card I-485 petition, effectively granting him permanent residency status.
“Ken Ofori-Atta’s Green card I-485 petition has been granted by US Immigration Court,” the lawyer said in a statement.
He added that the court determined the criminal allegations in Ghana were not credible, although the ruling was primarily based on whether the applicant met the legal requirements for adjustment of status.
Ofori-Atta served as Ghana’s Finance Minister from 2017 to 2024 under former President Nana Akufo-Addo, where he oversaw major tax reforms and negotiations with the International Monetary Fund.
His tenure was marked by both economic policy reforms and controversy, particularly around fiscal measures and public debt management.
The case has also drawn political attention in Ghana, where President John Mahama has pledged to intensify anti-corruption efforts, although critics argue that such moves risk being politically motivated.
The latest development marks a significant turn in the ongoing legal and political saga surrounding the former finance minister, with implications for both his personal status and broader Ghanaian political discourse.
