Former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, has secured a significant legal win in the United States after an immigration court approved his application to adjust his immigration status, clearing the way for him to obtain lawful permanent residency.
The ruling, delivered on Monday, relates to his I-485 petition, a key stage in the U.S. immigration process for individuals seeking a Green Card.
During the proceedings, the court reportedly examined ongoing criminal investigations and charges against Mr Ofori-Atta in Ghana. His legal counsel, Frank Davies, indicated that the judge considered concerns linked to actions taken by Ghana’s Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), including its earlier declaration of the former minister as a fugitive from justice.
The court was told that the declaration was made while Mr Ofori-Atta was receiving medical treatment in the United States, at a time when his lawyers were still in communication with investigators in Ghana.
Although the ruling is limited to immigration matters and does not interfere with criminal proceedings in Ghana, legal analysts suggest it could have implications for future efforts by Ghanaian authorities to secure his return.
In Ghana, the former Finance Minister remains at the centre of multiple corruption-related investigations stemming from his time in office. The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) earlier declared him a suspect and fugitive in four major cases.
These include investigations into alleged procurement irregularities linked to the National Cathedral project, a controversial initiative that has faced widespread public scrutiny over funding and transparency concerns.
Another probe involves the Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML) contract with the Ghana Revenue Authority, a deal worth billions of cedis that has raised questions over its legality and financial impact on the state.
The OSP is also investigating a contract between the Electricity Company of Ghana and Beijing Jao over system loss reduction, as well as ambulance procurement agreements between the Ministry of Health and Service Ghana Auto Limited, where procurement compliance and value-for-money issues have been flagged.
According to the OSP, led by Kissi Agyebeng, Mr Ofori-Atta was repeatedly invited for questioning but allegedly failed to cooperate.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), in June 2025 initiated steps for an INTERPOL Red Notice after he reportedly failed to respond to several invitations for questioning. The notice was later deleted by INTERPOL.
His legal team, however, maintains that he has been outside the country on medical grounds.
While the U.S. court decision marks a major milestone in his immigration process, the former minister continues to face ongoing scrutiny in Ghana over some of the country’s most high-profile financial and procurement-related controversies.
