The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has stated that former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta’s, reported receipt of lawful permanent residency in the United States has no impact on the criminal cases he faces in Ghana or the ongoing push to extradite him.
In a post on X, the OSP said it had noted press reports and a release linked to a Ghanaian law firm claiming that a US immigration court granted Mr Ofori-Atta permanent residency after finding that criminal charges brought against him in Ghana lacked credibility.
The anti-graft body dismissed that view, stressing it took no part in the immigration hearing and that only Ghanaian courts can rule on the credibility of the charges.
“The OSP states that it is not involved in immigration hearings in the United States involving Mr. Ofori-Atta,” the statement said.
According to the Office, its role regarding the former Finance Minister concerns only extradition processes being pursued through the Attorney-General, who acts as Ghana’s central authority in such issues.
The OSP further noted that the extradition package filed by Ghanaian authorities was not before the US immigration court and thus could not have influenced any decision on the criminal charges.
“The OSP states that the extradition packet is not before the immigration court; and the credibility or otherwise of the criminal charges against Mr. Ofori-Atta would be determined by the courts in Ghana, who have jurisdiction to determine his guilt or innocence,” it stated.
The clarification comes after reports that Mr Ofori-Atta achieved a legal win in the United States when an immigration court approved his I-485 petition, a major move toward securing lawful permanent residency.
According to his lawyer, Frank Davies, the court reviewed matters tied to criminal probes and charges confronting the former minister in Ghana. The hearing reportedly covered the OSP’s prior branding of Mr Ofori-Atta as a fugitive from justice while he was undergoing medical treatment in the United States.
Despite the immigration decision, the OSP emphasised that Mr Ofori-Atta remains a Ghanaian national and can still be sent back to Ghana via extradition if a competent US court rules so.“
Mr. Ofori-Atta still remains a citizen of Ghana and he is still amenable to be extradited to Ghana if so decided by the extradition court in the United States,” the statement added.
Mr Ofori-Atta faces several criminal accusations related to decisions made during his time as Finance Minister, including allegations that a deal awarded to Strategic Mobilisation Limited led to state losses of over GH¢1.4 billion.
He is also being investigated by the OSP, which in June 2025 began moves to obtain an INTERPOL Red Notice after he allegedly ignored multiple invitations for questioning.
The notice was later withdrawn by INTERPOL.The OSP insists the main criminal matters remain with Ghanaian authorities and that any verdict on Mr Ofori-Atta’s guilt or innocence lies solely with the courts in Ghana.
