A lawyer representing Ghana’s former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta says his client is seeking permanent residency in the United States rather than returning to Ghana, where he believes he may not receive a fair trial over corruption-related allegations.
Mr Ofori-Atta is currently being held at a detention facility operated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Virginia after he was arrested by U.S. immigration officials in January for overstaying his visa.
His lawyer, Enayat Qasimi, told Semafor.com, a US-based news website, that his client has a “pathway to residency” in the United States and intends to pursue it.
He also raised concerns about the independence of the judiciary in Ghana, claiming Mr. Ofori-Atta has been subjected to a “political witch hunt” and may not receive a fair trial over alleged financial impropriety during his tenure from 2017 to 2024.
The office of the Attorney-General’s Department (Ghana) declined to comment on the matter.
Meanwhile, Ghana has formally submitted an extradition request to the United States seeking Mr. Ofori-Atta’s return. U.S. officials told Semafor that the request has been received.
Mr. Ofori-Atta is expected to reappear before the Annandale Immigration Court in Virginia on April 27 after proceedings relating to his immigration status were adjourned.
He first appeared before the court in January during a virtual hearing presided over by Judge David Gardey. The hearing focused on a bond redetermination and an initial review of the case.
Mr. Ofori-Atta joined the hearing from the Caroline Detention Centre, wearing a black shirt, spectacles and a nose mask.
His visitor visa, which was due to expire in February, was later revoked by U.S. authorities. Court documents indicate he had earlier been directed to leave the United States by November 29 last year but failed to do so, leaving him without lawful immigration status.
During the hearing, his lawyers successfully requested that the bond hearing and master calendar proceedings be held behind closed doors, citing the sensitive nature of the issues involved. The judge granted the request.
In Ghana, Mr. Ofori-Atta and five others are facing more than 70 criminal charges linked to several corruption investigations. The cases include allegations that a contract awarded to Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML) caused a financial loss of more than GH¢1.4 billion to the state.
