Ghana’s Ofori‑Atta Granted US Permanent Residency Amid Ongoing Extradition Fight

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) reiterated that only Ghanaian courts have jurisdiction over former Finance Minister Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori‑Atta’s criminal case, stating that “Mr Ofori‑Atta remains the subject of criminal proceedings in Ghana” and that a valid arrest warrant has been issued by the High Court in Accra. The OSP emphasized that the United States immigration proceedings do not affect the Ghanaian trial and that public discussion has mistakenly merged three separate legal processes: US immigration hearings, US extradition proceedings, and the Ghanaian criminal trial.

A US‑based immigration lawyer explained that an immigration judge granted Ofori‑Atta permanent residency because the evidence presented by the OSP was deemed insufficient, noting the judge “was not convinced by the arguments coming from the OSP.” She warned that while the green‑card decision does not block Ghana’s extradition request, any future extradition would require compelling evidence. The lawyer outlined three possible ways for Ofori‑Atta to return to Ghana: voluntary return, forced deportation (which failed), or extradition through diplomatic channels.