Ghana ex-finance minister neva escape corruption trial despite US permanent residency

Ghanaian authorities say depsite say former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta don get di lawful permanent residency for United States, e no mean say e no dey face criminal charges or dem no go extradite am into Ghana.

Office of di Special Prosecutor dey react to one publications from one Ghanaian law firm wey tok say US immigration court don give Ofori-Atta permanent residency afta dem determine say di criminal charges wey dem file against am for Ghana no get credibility.

Earlier on Tuesday, Ofori-Atta legal representatives tok say US don grant permanent residency to Ofori-Atta, afta dem no see any evidence wey connect am to di corruption crimes wey OSP tok say im commit.

Meanwhile, for January US-ICE confam say Ofori-Atta dey dia custody ova immigration wahala.

Ghanian autorities argue say Ofori-Atta na stil citizen of Ghana and dem still fit extradite am back to Ghana if di extradition court for di United States agree.

OSP tok say as im case no dey bifor immigration court and na Ghana go decide weda di criminal charges against if im dey "guilty or innocent."

"Di Office of di Special Prosecutor (OSP) don see one publication wey one law firm for Ghana say Mr Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta don get permanent residency for di United States becos immigration court no find di criminal charges wey OSP file for Ghana against Mr Ofori-Atta credible," e tok.

"OSP tok say dem no dey involved for immigration hearings for di United States wey involve Mr. Ofori-Atta. OSP involvement dey in respect to di extradition proceedings against Mr. Ofori-Atta through di Attorney-General as di main authority.

On Tuesday, Ofori-Atta legal team explain say US don grant am Green card afta OSP bin declare am "fugitive from justice." wen e dey get medical treatment for United States.

Justice Kusi-Minkah Premo tok say di court no find di criminal charges credible becos Ofori meed di legal immigration requirements

E also explain say di rullings na base on di " context of United States immigration proceedings."

"Ken Ofori-Atta Green card I-485 petition don get approval by US Immigration Court," im lawyer Justice Kusi-Minkah Premo tok.

"Di court hear evidence wey don happun from Ghana Office of di Special Prosecutor, wey include di OSP early decision to declare Mr Ofori-Atta be fugitive from justice wen e dey get medical treatment for United States and im lawyers remain in communication wit investigators for Ghana,"

"Di court no find di criminal charges for Ghana credible," e tok, but e add say di decision na to check if Ofori-Atta meet di legal requirements to change him status.

Di former-finance minister don dey stay for US since January last year for medical treatment, becos im prostate cancer surgery.

For January, immigration arrest am ova "di status of im leagl stay", im lawyer tok, but e no give any details on im corruption charges for Ghana.

But, Ghana attorney general Justice Dominic Ayine tok say im office don formally send extradition request for di ex-finance minister and im alleged accomplice – one Ernest Akore (Ken chief of staff wen im dey office as finance minister), to di US.

Im confam say demdon begin di process for extradition since November 2025 wen dem submit di request for commencement of extradition proceedings against di two of dem.

"At dis point, na di US authorities especially di judicial authorities go determine weda sufficient evidence dey wey go demand say make di two accused pipo – di ex-finance minister and im chief of staff, dey extradited to Ghana to stand trial."

About Ken Ofori-Atta

Ken Ofori-Atta na prominent Ghana politician, investment banker, and economist. E dey married to Angela Lamensdorf, dem born four pikin.

Di 66-year-old, Ghanaian politician finish im A-level for Achimota School in 1978, afta which im begin work as mathematics teacher for Accra Academy.

Ofori-Atta enta Columbia University B.A. program for economics in August 1980. For 1984, e graduate from Columbia University and start work for Morgan Stanley for New York.

Ken Ofori-Atta political career start wen President Nana Akufo-Addo appoint intoim cabinet afta di 2016 elections. For May 2017, President Akufo-Addo announce Ken Ofori-Atta as one of 19 ministers for im cabinet.

Ofori-Atta serve as finance minister from 2017 to 2024 under di former president Nana Akufo-Addo, and im manage some serious tax reforms and negotiations wit di International Monetary Fund.

Di former minister don become fugitive for Ghana since February 2025 and dem don charge am for corruption since November.