Lawyers for Ghana’s former finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta say he is seeking permanent residency in the United States rather than returning to Ghana, where he faces corruption allegations and fears he would not receive a fair trial.
Ofori-Atta, who served as finance minister from 2017 to 2024 under former president Nana Akufo-Addo, is currently being held in a detention facility in the US state of Virginia after immigration authorities arrested him in January for overstaying his visa.
His lawyer, Enayat Qasimi, told US news outlet Semafor that the former minister intends to pursue a “pathway to residency” in the United States rather than return to Ghana to face the accusations.
Qasimi said his client believed the legal process awaiting him in Ghana would be unfair, raising what he described as “serious questions” about the independence of the country’s judiciary. He argued that the case against Ofori-Atta was part of a “political witch hunt” and that the former minister would be unlikely to receive a fair trial if extradited.
Ghanaian authorities, however, have formally requested his extradition from the United States so that he can face prosecution at home. US officials confirmed that the extradition request has been received, though the process remains subject to American legal procedures.
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The office of Ghana’s attorney general declined to comment on the latest developments.
Immigration detention
Ofori-Atta was arrested on January 6 by officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement after authorities determined he had overstayed his visa following its revocation in 2025.
He is being held at a detention centre in Virginia while immigration proceedings continue to determine his legal status in the United States. His case was heard in a US immigration court earlier this year, with the proceedings adjourned to April as the legal process unfolds.
Ofori-Atta has maintained that he has a pending petition to adjust his immigration status, which could allow him to remain in the country while authorities review his application.
Legal experts say his immigration case could intersect with Ghana’s extradition request, potentially complicating the process of returning him to face charges.
Corruption accusations
The former minister is accused by Ghanaian prosecutors of corruption and causing financial losses to the state during his time in office.
Investigators from the Office of the Special Prosecutor (Ghana) have charged him in absentia with dozens of corruption-related offences, including allegations tied to controversial procurement and revenue-collection contracts.
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Authorities say the charges form part of a broader effort to pursue accountability for alleged financial misconduct in government.
Ofori-Atta has denied wrongdoing.
Political backdrop
The case has drawn significant attention in Ghana, where Ofori-Atta was a central figure in economic policymaking during a turbulent period for the country’s finances.
During his tenure, Ghana faced its worst economic crisis in a generation, with soaring inflation, a sharp currency depreciation and a debt restructuring process that required a bailout from the International Monetary Fund.
Ofori-Atta was also a close political ally — and cousin — of Akufo-Addo, whose administration governed Ghana until early 2025.
The pursuit of the former minister has become emblematic of the anti-corruption agenda of President John Dramani Mahama, who returned to power last year after campaigning on a promise to strengthen accountability and recover public funds lost through alleged corruption.
Ghana’s government has said the extradition effort reflects its determination to ensure that senior officials accused of wrongdoing face justice regardless of their status or location.
The outcome of the legal proceedings in the United States could determine whether Ofori-Atta returns to Ghana to stand trial or remains in America while pursuing residency.
