Former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, is seeking permanent residency in the United States while contesting immigration proceedings, as Ghana pursues his extradition over multiple corruption charges.
Mr. Ofori-Atta is currently held at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Virginia after US authorities arrested him in January for overstaying his visa.
According to his lawyer, Enayat Qasimi, Mr. Ofori-Atta is pursuing a “pathway to residency” in the United States rather than returning to Ghana, where he fears he would not receive a fair trial.
According to Mr. Qasimi, there are “serious questions” about the independence of Ghana’s judiciary, and he claims his client has been subjected to a “political witch hunt” over alleged financial impropriety during his tenure as Finance Minister from 2017 to 2024.
Ghana has formally requested his extradition, which US officials have acknowledged. The Office of the Attorney General in Ghana declined to comment.
Mr. Ofori-Atta is expected to reappear before the Annandale Immigration Court in Virginia on April 27, after the case concerning his immigration status was adjourned.
He first appeared virtually in court in January, presided over by Judge David Gardey. During that hearing, the focus was on bond redetermination and an initial review of his case. Mr. Ofori-Atta appeared from the Caroline Detention Centre wearing a black shirt, spectacles, and a nose mask.
Court documents show that his visa was set to expire in February but was revoked by US authorities. He had been ordered to leave the US by November 29 of the previous year but failed to comply. US authorities maintain that after the revocation of his visa and his failure to depart, he no longer had lawful immigration status.
During the January hearing, his lawyers successfully requested that both the bond and master calendar hearings be held behind closed doors due to the sensitive nature of the case. Judge Gardey approved the request, requiring all non-participants observing via Webex to exit.
Back in Ghana, Mr. Ofori-Atta and five others face over 70 criminal charges tied to corruption investigations, including allegations that the Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML) contract caused a financial loss exceeding GH¢1.4 billion to the state.
