Ken Ofori-Atta Seeks U.S. Residency as Ghana Pushes for Extradition

Ghana’s former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, is trying to obtain permanent residency in the United States while Ghanaian authorities are working to bring him back to Ghana to face corruption charges. Reports say he is currently fighting an immigration case in the United States.

According to Graphic Online, Mr. Ofori-Atta is being held at a detention facility in Virginia run by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He was arrested in January after U.S. officials said he had stayed in the country longer than his visa allowed.

His lawyer, Enayat Qasimi, told the news platform Semafor that the former minister is trying to find a legal way to stay in the United States instead of returning to Ghana. The lawyer said Mr. Ofori-Atta fears he may not receive a fair trial if he goes back home.

The Government of Ghana has officially asked the United States to extradite him. U.S. authorities have confirmed that they have received the request, but the Office of the Attorney General of Ghana has not commented on the issue.

Mr. Ofori-Atta is expected to appear again before an immigration court in Virginia on April 27. His first court appearance in January was held online before Judge David Gardey to review his immigration status and bond request.

Court records show that his visa was supposed to expire in February but was later cancelled. He had been asked to leave the United States by November 29 last year but did not do so, which led to his arrest.

In Ghana, Mr. Ofori-Atta and five other people are facing more than 70 criminal charges linked to corruption investigations. One of the cases involves a contract with Strategic Monilisation Limited, which investigators say caused the country to lose more than GH¢1.4 billion.