The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has stated that former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta's reported progress toward obtaining lawful permanent residency in the United States has no bearing on the criminal proceedings he faces in Ghana or ongoing efforts to secure his return through extradition.

In a statement shared on X, the anti-corruption agency responded to media reports suggesting that a US immigration court granted Mr. Ofori-Atta's residency application after finding the criminal allegations against him in Ghana to be unsubstantiated.

The OSP dismissed that interpretation, stressing that it was not a party to the immigration proceedings and that any assessment of the merits of the criminal charges falls exclusively within the jurisdiction of Ghana's courts.

According to the Office, its involvement in matters relating to the former Finance Minister is limited to extradition proceedings being pursued through the Attorney-General, who serves as Ghana's designated authority for international extradition matters.

The agency further clarified that the extradition request submitted by Ghanaian authorities was not under consideration in the US immigration case and therefore could not have influenced the court's decision regarding Mr. Ofori-Atta's immigration status.

It maintained that the validity of the charges against the former minister can only be determined through judicial proceedings in Ghana, where the substantive cases remain pending.

The clarification follows reports that a US immigration court approved Mr. Ofori-Atta's I-485 application, a key stage in the process of acquiring permanent resident status in the United States.

His lawyer, Frank Davies, reportedly indicated that issues relating to investigations and charges in Ghana featured during the proceedings. Discussions are also said to have touched on the OSP's earlier decision to declare Mr. Ofori-Atta a fugitive from justice while he was receiving medical treatment in the United States.

Despite the immigration court's ruling, the OSP emphasized that Mr. Ofori-Atta remains a Ghanaian citizen and could still be extradited if a competent court in the United States approves Ghana's request.

The former Finance Minister is facing several allegations linked to decisions taken during his time in office, including claims that a contract awarded to Strategic Mobilisation Limited caused financial losses exceeding GH¢1.4 billion to the state.

He also remains under investigation by the OSP, which in June 2025 initiated efforts to obtain an INTERPOL Red Notice after he allegedly failed to honour multiple invitations for questioning. The notice was subsequently withdrawn by INTERPOL.

The OSP reiterated that all substantive criminal matters involving Mr. Ofori-Atta remain before the appropriate Ghanaian authorities and that any determination of his culpability or innocence rests solely with the courts in Ghana.