Ken Ofori-Atta granted US green card

Former MInister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, has been granted permanent residency in the United States, after a US immigration judge found that Ghana's Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) had failed to provide credible evidence backing its corruption case against him.

In a ruling dated June 15, 2026, Judge David Gardey approved Ofori-Atta's green card application, rejecting the OSP's affidavit as insufficient to establish criminal wrongdoing.

"The lack of any persuasive evidence indicating any kind of criminal wrongdoing or criminal conspiracy involving the respondent in the OSP's affidavit is powerful evidence," Judge Gardey said.

The OSP's case against Ofori-Atta includes more than 70 criminal counts, alleging conspiracy and misuse of public funds during his time as finance minister. But the judge said the affidavit was "full of conclusory allegations" and lacked the "credible or reliable facts" needed to substantiate those claims.

US immigration court rules OSP failed to prove criminal case against Ofori-Atta

Ofori-Atta testified that he never received anything of value from companies or individuals under investigation, and did not personally benefit from decisions made while in office. The judge found his testimony credible.

In granting the green card, the court also weighed Ofori-Atta's long-standing ties to the US, including his education and professional career there, his US citizen son, his clean criminal record in the country, and his ongoing medical treatment.

Additional factors cited included the removal of an Interpol Red Notice connected to Ghana's charges, a KPMG review that found administrative weaknesses but no criminal wrongdoing, and the US Department of Justice's decision not to pursue extradition based on Ghana's request.