Former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has been granted permanent residency in the United States after a US immigration judge ruled that Ghana’s Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) failed to provide credible evidence to support its corruption allegations against him.
In a decision dated June 15, 2026, US Immigration Judge David Gardey approved Ofori-Atta’s application for a US green card, concluding that the evidence presented by the OSP did not establish criminal wrongdoing.
“The lack of any persuasive evidence indicating any kind of criminal wrongdoing or criminal conspiracy involving the respondent in the OSP’s affidavit is powerful evidence,” Judge Gardey stated in his ruling.
The OSP has accused Ofori-Atta of more than 70 criminal offences, including conspiracy and the alleged misuse of public funds during his tenure as Ghana’s Finance Minister. However, Judge Gardey found that the affidavit submitted by the OSP was “full of conclusory allegations” and lacked the “credible or reliable facts” necessary to substantiate the claims.
During the immigration proceedings, Ofori-Atta testified that he had never received anything of value from any company or individual linked to the investigations and had not personally benefited from decisions taken while serving in public office. The court found his testimony to be credible and consistent.
In reaching its decision, the court also considered Ofori-Atta’s long-standing connections to the United States. These included his education and professional career in the country, the fact that his son is a US citizen, his clean criminal record in the United States, and his ongoing medical treatment.
The ruling further noted several factors that weighed in Ofori-Atta’s favour, including the removal of an Interpol Red Notice related to Ghana’s charges, a KPMG review that identified administrative weaknesses but found no evidence of criminal misconduct, and the US Department of Justice’s decision not to pursue extradition proceedings based on Ghana’s request.
The decision represents a significant legal development for the former finance minister, whose legal battles with Ghana’s Office of the Special Prosecutor have drawn widespread public and political attention. While the US immigration court’s ruling addresses the evidence presented in relation to his residency application, the criminal allegations brought against Ofori-Atta by the OSP remain subject to Ghana’s legal processes.
