Ken Ofori-Atta to Face Key U.S. Immigration Hearing on June 15
June 15 hearing to determine residency bid and potential return to Ghana
- Ken Ofori-Atta to appear before a U.S. immigration court in Virginia on June 15
- Case will examine his residency claim as Ghana seeks his return over multiple charges
- Outcome could decide whether he stays in the U.S. or faces trial in Ghana
Former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta is scheduled to appear before a U.S. immigration court on June 15, 2026, in a case that could determine both his future residency in America and Ghana’s efforts to have him returned to face criminal charges.
According to court records, the hearing will take place at 1:00 p.m. before Judge David A. Gardey at the Annandale Immigration Court. The session is expected to be conducted virtually.
This upcoming appearance follows his release from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody on April 7, after a court granted him bail set at $65,000. His legal team in Ghana, Minkah-Premo, Osei-Bonsu, Bruce-Cathline and Partners, confirmed at the time that he had reunited with his family and remained committed to defending his rights under U.S. law.
Unlike earlier procedural sittings, the June hearing is expected to address the substance of his immigration case, including arguments regarding his continued stay in the United States.
Records indicate that Ofori-Atta entered the U.S. on May 28, 2025, on a visitor’s visa that expired on November 27, 2025. He remained beyond that period, leading to his arrest by immigration authorities on January 6, 2026, in Washington, D.C.
Meanwhile, authorities in Ghana are seeking his extradition to face more than 70 criminal charges tied to ongoing corruption investigations involving multiple individuals. Among the issues under scrutiny are matters linked to the Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited contract.
His U.S.-based lawyer, Enayat Qasimi, has argued that his client is pursuing a legal pathway to residency in the United States. He has also raised concerns about whether Ofori-Atta would receive a fair trial if returned to Ghana, suggesting the case may be politically influenced.
Ofori-Atta served under former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo from 2017 to early 2024 and was a central figure in the New Patriotic Party administration. His tenure included overseeing Ghana’s 2023 IMF bailout programme, alongside criticism related to the country’s debt crisis and the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme.
The June 15 hearing is expected to draw significant attention in both Ghana and the United States, as its outcome could influence whether he remains in the U.S. or faces legal proceedings back home.
