A lawyer for Ghana’s former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, has revealed that his client is pursuing permanent residency in the United States instead of returning to Ghana, where he faces multiple corruption-related charges.
Ofori-Atta is currently being held at an immigration detention facility in Virginia after he was arrested by US immigration authorities in January for allegedly overstaying his visa.
Speaking in an interview, his lawyer, Enayat Qasimi, said the former minister intends to remain in the United States and pursue legal pathways to residency.
According to Qasimi, his client believes returning to Ghana could expose him to an unfair legal process.
“He has a ‘pathway to residency’ that he would pursue,” Qasimi said.
According to a report on myjoyonline.com, the lawyer also argued that there were “serious questions” about the independence of Ghana’s judiciary, adding that Ofori-Atta had been subjected to a “political witch hunt” that could affect the fairness of any trial related to allegations of financial impropriety during his time in office between 2017 and 2024.
Officials from the Office of the Attorney-General of Ghana declined to comment on the claims.
Meanwhile, Ghanaian authorities have formally requested the extradition of the former finance minister.
US officials have confirmed that the request has been received and is being considered.
Ofori-Atta is expected to appear again before the Annandale Immigration Court in Virginia on April 27, after his immigration case was adjourned.
He first appeared before the court in January during a virtual hearing presided over by Judge David Gardey.
The proceedings focused on a bond redetermination and an initial review of his immigration status.
During that hearing, Ofori-Atta joined virtually from the Caroline Detention Facility, wearing a black shirt, spectacles and a nose mask.
His visitor visa, which was due to expire in February, was later revoked by U.S. authorities. Court records indicate that he had earlier been directed to leave the country by November 29 last year but failed to comply, leaving him without lawful immigration status.
His lawyers also requested that the bond hearing and the master calendar proceedings be held behind closed doors, citing the sensitive nature of the case. The request was granted by the judge.
Back in Ghana, Ofori-Atta and five other individuals are facing more than 70 criminal charges linked to several corruption investigations.
Among the key allegations is that a contract involving Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML) allegedly caused a financial loss of over GH¢1.4 billion to the state.
The case continues to draw attention both in Ghana and abroad as legal proceedings unfold in the United States while Ghanaian authorities pursue his return to face trial.
