A United States immigration court has granted former Ghanaian Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta lawful permanent residency, approving his Green Card application despite ongoing corruption allegations against him in Ghana and bringing months of legal uncertainty in the United States to a close.
The ruling follows his earlier detention by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after questions were raised over his immigration status while he sought an extension of stay linked to medical treatment.
Ofori-Atta, 66, has been in the United States since January 2025, where he has been receiving treatment for prostate cancer, including surgery.
His legal troubles in Ghana escalated during his stay abroad, as authorities declared him a fugitive in February 2025 and later formally charged him in November over alleged corruption and financial misconduct during his tenure as finance minister.
Despite these developments, the U.S. immigration court proceeded with his adjustment-of-status application, ultimately granting approval after reviewing his eligibility under U.S. immigration law.
In a statement, his attorney, Justice Kusi-Minkah Premo, confirmed that the court approved the I-485 petition for a Green Card, adding that the tribunal found the criminal allegations from Ghana not sufficiently credible to block the application.
He noted, however, that the decision was strictly based on immigration requirements rather than a full adjudication of the corruption claims, which remain a separate legal matter in Ghana.