Ghana's 'fugitive' ex-finance minister seeks permanent US residency, cites fair trial concerns
Former Ghana finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta has begun pursuing permanent US residency as Ghana seeks his return to face corruption-related charges, according to his lawyer.
Ofori-Atta is being held at a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Virginia after he was arrested by US immigration officials in January for allegedly overstaying his visa.
His lead counsel, Enayat Qasimi, told Semafor that Ofori-Atta has a “pathway to residency” that he intends to pursue instead of returning home, arguing that his client fears he would not get a fair trial in Ghana. Qasimi said there are “serious questions” about the independence of the Ghanaian judiciary and described the case as a “political witch hunt.”
Ghana has filed an extradition request for Ofori-Atta, and US officials told Semafor the request has been received. Ghana’s Attorney-General’s office declined to comment, according to the report.
Ofori-Atta is facing multiple allegations, including corruption, money laundering and using public office for profit, with prosecutors alleging that the Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML) contract caused a financial loss of more than GH¢1.4 billion to the state.
The case has drawn wide attention in Ghana, where Ofori-Atta oversaw the Finance Ministry from 2017 to 2024 during a period that ended with the country’s worst economic crisis in a generation. His prosecution has also become a high-profile test of President John Dramani Mahama’s pledge to crack down on corruption.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
