Ken Ofori-Atta, Ghana’s former finance minister, has been granted permanent residency in the United States following a ruling by an immigration court, according to his lawyer.

The decision was confirmed on Tuesday, ending months of legal uncertainty surrounding his stay in the US, where he had been receiving medical treatment since January last year.

His attorney said the ruling approved his green card petition and found that the criminal allegations in Ghana were not credible, although the court clarified that its decision focused solely on whether he met the legal requirements for adjustment of status.

Ofori-Atta, who served as finance minister from 2017 to 2024 under former President Nana Akufo-Addo, had been declared a fugitive by Ghanaian authorities in February 2025 and later charged with corruption in November of the same year.

He was previously arrested by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while seeking to extend his stay in the country over what authorities described as issues relating to his immigration status.

The case unfolded amid Ghana’s wider anti-corruption drive under President John Mahama, which has faced criticism from some quarters over alleged political targeting.

The ruling by the US Immigration Court marks a key development in a case that has drawn attention in both Ghana and the United States.