An Immigration Court in Annandale, United States, has approved the adjustment of status application for Ghana’s former Finance Minister, Kenneth Ofori-Atta, granting him legal permanent residence in the United States.
Presiding Judge David Gardey ruled that criminal allegations levelled against Mr Ofori-Atta by Ghana’s Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) lacked credibility and substance.
Delivering the oral decision on 15 June 2026, Judge Gardey stated that after examining a 200-page affidavit and charge sheets submitted by the OSP, the court found no evidence of criminal wrongdoing by the former minister during his tenure in public office.
The court noted that Mr Ofori-Atta provided credible testimony and robust evidence demonstrating his innocence regarding his actions as Finance Minister from 2017 to 2024 and subsequently as a senior presidential advisor.
Addressing his immigration status, the court determined that Mr Ofori-Atta’s visa overstay was a minor infraction committed in good faith whilst pursuing permanent residency through an I-130 petition filed by his United States citizen son.
Judge Gardey highlighted key positive factors in the former minister’s favour, including his long-standing career in international finance, public service in Ghana without taking a salary, extensive charitable work, and ongoing medical treatment for cancer in the United States.
The court concluded that the positive equities far outweighed the minor immigration violation, granting him lawful status and effectively halting deportation proceedings initiated by the US Department of Homeland Security.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
