Ofori-Atta pursuing permanent US residency – Lawyers

Former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has begun the process of pursuing permanent US residency, his lawyers have confirmed to a US-based news site.

Ken Ofori-Atta is facing multiple charges of corruption, money laundering and using public office for profit, including allegations that the Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML) contract caused a financial loss of more than GH¢1.4 billion to the state. He is expected to return to Ghana to stand trial. Ghana’s Attorney-General has issued an extradition request, which could pave the way for a trial.

The former Finance Minister is currently being held in an U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Virginia after his arrest by US immigration officials in January for overstaying his visa.

His lead counsel, Enayat Qasimi, told news site Semafor that his client has a “pathway to residency” that he intends to pursue, adding that there were “serious questions” about the independence of the Ghanaian judiciary, which he claimed had led to his client being subjected to a political witch hunt.

The lawyers maintain that Ken Ofori-Atta is unlikely to receive a fair trial over the alleged financial impropriety during his time in office from 2017 to 2024.