A United States Immigration Court has approved former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta’s I-485 application, granting him an adjustment of residency status and paving the way for permanent residency in the United States.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued on June 16 by his lawyer, Justice Kusi Minkah-Premo.

According to the statement, the court’s decision followed proceedings that reviewed evidence relating to actions taken by Ghana’s Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), including its previous declaration of Mr. Ofori-Atta as a fugitive from justice.

The legal team noted that the court considered circumstances surrounding the declaration, including claims that Mr. Ofori-Atta was undergoing medical treatment in the United States at the time and remained in contact with Ghanaian authorities through his legal representatives.

The statement said the court ultimately determined that the allegations and criminal charges being pursued against the former minister in Ghana did not satisfy the required standard of credibility within the context of the immigration proceedings.

However, Mr. Ofori-Atta’s lawyers stressed that the ruling was confined solely to U.S. immigration law and should not be construed as a judgment on any criminal matters pending in Ghana.

“The court’s decision was made within the framework of United States immigration proceedings and was focused solely on whether Mr. Ofori-Atta satisfied the legal requirements for adjustment of status,” the statement said.

The legal team further emphasized that the ruling relates exclusively to his immigration petition and does not amount to a final determination of any ongoing investigations, allegations, or legal proceedings involving him in Ghana.