Source: Ken Ofori-Atta
Ghana’s former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, is pursuing permanent residency in the United States while facing corruption-related charges in Ghana, according to his lawyer.
His legal representative says the former minister would prefer to remain in the U.S. rather than return to Ghana, where he believes he may not receive a fair trial over the allegations.
Mr. Ofori-Atta is currently being held at a detention facility run by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Virginia after he was arrested by U.S. immigration officials in January for overstaying his visa.
Speaking to Semafor.com, his lawyer, Enayat Qasimi, said his client has a “pathway to residency” in the United States and plans to pursue it.
Qasimi also questioned the independence of Ghana’s judiciary, arguing that the former minister has been targeted in what he described as a “political witch hunt” and may not receive a fair trial over alleged financial impropriety during his tenure as finance minister from 2017 to 2024.
Officials at the Attorney-General’s Department of Ghana declined to comment on the matter.
Meanwhile, Ghana has formally submitted an extradition request to the United States seeking Mr. Ofori-Atta’s return. U.S. officials confirmed to Semafor that the request has been received.
Mr. Ofori-Atta is scheduled to appear again before the Annandale Immigration Court in Virginia on April 27 after proceedings concerning his immigration status were adjourned.
He first appeared before the court in January during a virtual hearing presided over by David Gardey. The session focused on a bond redetermination and an initial review of the case.
Joining the hearing from the Caroline Detention Centre, Mr. Ofori-Atta wore a black shirt, spectacles and a nose mask.
His visitor visa, which was due to expire in February, was later revoked by U.S. authorities. Court records show that he had earlier been instructed to leave the United States by November 29 last year but failed to do so, leaving him without lawful immigration status.
During the hearing, his lawyers successfully requested that the bond hearing and master calendar proceedings be conducted behind closed doors, citing the sensitive nature of the case. The judge granted the request.
In Ghana, Mr. Ofori-Atta and five others are facing more than 70 criminal charges tied to multiple corruption investigations. Among the allegations is that a contract awarded to Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML) resulted in a financial loss of more than GH¢1.4 billion to the state.
