The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has firmly rejected claims that former Finance Minister, Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta, has been cleared of wrongdoing following reports of his acquisition of lawful permanent residency in the United States.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the anti-corruption agency dismissed interpretations suggesting that a US immigration court had cast doubt on the credibility of criminal charges against Mr Ofori-Atta, describing such assertions as misleading.
The clarification follows media reports and a publication attributed to a Ghanaian law firm which claimed that the immigration court granted Mr Ofori-Atta permanent residency after determining that the allegations against him in Ghana lacked merit.
However, the OSP stressed that it played no role in the US immigration proceedings and that the issue of the former minister’s guilt or innocence remains solely within the jurisdiction of Ghanaian courts.
“The OSP is not involved in immigration hearings in the United States involving Mr Ofori-Atta,” the statement said, adding that any suggestion that the court assessed the substance of the criminal charges is inaccurate.
According to the Office, its engagement with Mr Ofori-Atta’s case is limited to ongoing extradition efforts being pursued through the Attorney-General, Ghana’s designated central authority in such matters.
The OSP further explained that the extradition request submitted by Ghanaian authorities was not before the US immigration court and therefore could not have influenced any ruling on the allegations against him.
“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,” the statement emphasised.
Despite reports of his residency status, the OSP maintained that Mr Ofori-Atta remains a Ghanaian citizen and is still subject to extradition if a competent US court grants the request.
The development has raised questions about the implications of Mr Ofori-Atta’s legal status in the United States, particularly in relation to ongoing efforts to compel his return to Ghana to face multiple criminal allegations.
Mr Ofori-Atta is under investigation for several decisions taken during his tenure as Finance Minister, including allegations that a contract awarded to Strategic Mobilisation Limited resulted in losses exceeding GH¢1.4 billion to the state.
The OSP had previously declared him a fugitive from justice after he allegedly failed to honour multiple invitations for questioning, and initiated steps toward securing an INTERPOL Red Notice, which was later withdrawn.
While the US immigration ruling marks a significant personal legal development for Mr Ofori-Atta, the OSP insists it has no bearing on the substantive criminal matters pending before Ghanaian authorities.
The Office reiterated that any determination regarding the allegations against the former minister will be made exclusively by Ghana’s courts, as efforts to secure his extradition continue.
