Ofori-Atta Seeks US Residency Citing Trial Concerns | Discuss Ghana

On Friday, March 13, 2026, legal representatives for Ghana’s former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, confirmed that he is pursuing permanent residency in the United States rather than returning to Ghana to face corruption charges.

The former minister is currently being held at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Virginia. He was arrested in January 2026 for overstaying his visa, which the Ghanaian government reveals was actually revoked in June 2025.

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Fair Trial Concerns and "Political Witch Hunt"

Ofori-Atta’s U.S.-based lawyer, Enayat Qasimi, stated that his client is seeking a "pathway to residency" due to significant doubts regarding the independence of the Ghanaian judiciary.

Judicial Neutrality: The defense team claims there are "serious questions" about whether Ofori-Atta would receive a fair trial in Ghana.

Political Allegations: Qasimi labeled the legal actions as a "political witch hunt" by the current National Reset administration.

Emblematic Case: For the government of President John Dramani Mahama, the prosecution of Ofori-Atta has become a central symbol of its vow to tackle high-level corruption and financial impropriety.

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The 70+ Count Corruption Case

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) and the Attorney-General's office have leveled a massive series of charges against the former minister:

Count Total: Ofori-Atta faces 78 counts of corruption and corruption-related offenses.

SML Contract: A primary focus is his central involvement in the controversial Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) revenue assurance contract, which the OSP alleges caused significant financial loss to the state.

Broad Misconduct: Other charges relate to the National Cathedral project, the Tax Refund Account of the GRA, and several procurement breaches.

Extradition Request: Ghana formally submitted a "comprehensive extradition packet" to the U.S. government on December 29, 2025, seeking his return for trial.

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Current Status: The "Fugitive" Label

The OSP officially declared Ken Ofori-Atta a fugitive from justice on February 12, 2025, after he failed to return from a self-described "indefinite medical leave" in the U.S..

While INTERPOL recently terminated a Red Notice against him because he is already in U.S. custody, this move does not stop the separate extradition proceedings currently being reviewed by U.S. authorities.