Former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has been granted permanent residency in the United States after a US immigration judge ruled that the evidence presented by Ghana’s Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) was insufficient to support allegations of corruption against him.
According to a ruling issued on June 15, 2026, Judge David Gardey approved Ofori-Atta’s application for a US green card after concluding that the OSP had failed to provide credible and convincing evidence linking the former minister to criminal conduct.
In the judgment, the judge stated that the affidavit submitted by the OSP did not contain persuasive proof of any criminal wrongdoing or conspiracy involving Ofori-Atta.
He described the document as largely consisting of broad allegations without reliable facts to support the accusations.
The OSP has accused the former finance minister of conspiracy and the misuse of public funds during his tenure in office.
The charges reportedly include more than 70 criminal counts relating to decisions made while he served in government.
However, the US court found that the material presented was not enough to establish criminal liability for immigration purposes.
During the proceedings, Ofori-Atta maintained that he never accepted money, gifts, or any other benefits from companies or individuals connected to the investigations.
He also denied personally profiting from any government decisions taken while he was finance minister. Judge Gardey said he found Ofori-Atta’s testimony to be credible.
The court also considered several other factors before approving the residency application. These included Ofori-Atta’s long-standing connections to the United States through his education and professional career, the fact that he has a son who is a US citizen, his lack of a criminal record in the country, and his ongoing medical treatment in the US.
The ruling further noted that an Interpol Red Notice linked to Ghana’s case had been withdrawn.
It also referred to a KPMG review, which reportedly identified administrative shortcomings but found no evidence of criminal wrongdoing.
Additionally, the judge considered the decision by the US Department of Justice not to pursue Ghana’s extradition request.
