Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has made fresh claims in the ongoing case involving former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, alleging that he is seeking to exchange his Ghanaian citizenship for permanent residency status in the United States.
Mr. Ofori-Atta is currently being held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the Caroline Detention Facility in Virginia.
While his legal representatives describe the situation as a “procedural adjustment of status,” Mr. Kpebu argues that the move is a strategic effort to secure long-term residence in the U.S. and complicate possible extradition to Ghana to face corruption-related charges.
Speaking in an interview on Accra-based TV3, he said the language used by Mr. Ofori-Atta’s lawyers, Minkah-Premo, Osei-Bonsu, Bruce-Cathline and Partners (MPOBB), supports his assertion.
“The lawyers admit that Ofori-Atta has a pending petition before the immigration authorities of the US to adjust his status in the US. That phrase, ‘to adjust his status in the US’, is the part of it that says that he’s applied to change so he wants to become a permanent resident. That’s why he has a pending petition to adjust his status — a pending petition for permanent residence,” he asserted.
He further claimed that the residency process is being facilitated by Mr. Ofori-Atta’s son, a U.S. citizen.
“I mentioned earlier that the information I got about two months ago was that his son had applied for him to become a permanent resident.
“So, the son is a citizen of the US, and he has applied for Ofori-Atta to become a permanent resident. Yes, if you’re a citizen of the US, you can file for your father or you can file for your mother,” he explained.
Mr. Kpebu added that recent public statements from Mr. Ofori-Atta’s legal team have validated information he shared months ago.
“So, I’m happy that you see the lawyers have corroborated it somewhat… when I first mentioned it, people were asking for my source, and even some others doubted it,” he noted.
According to him, permanent residency status would significantly strengthen the former minister’s legal position in the U.S., making deportation or extradition more complex.
“So, from the name ‘permanent resident’, it means that he will be a permanent resident in the US… When you are a permanent resident, it gives you more rights in American society, etc., rather than going on a visitor’s or business trip visa,” he said.
Mr. Kpebu also criticised the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), arguing that delays in pursuing trial in absentia earlier enabled Mr. Ofori-Atta to seek U.S. residency.
“The OSP came and gave us ridiculous, ludicrous answers, that no, you cannot do a trial in absentia. So, the trial is going to go on,” insisting the delay has now made it more difficult to bring the former minister back to Ghana.
Meanwhile, Mr Ofori-Atta’s lawyers are currently fighting deportation and continue pursuing residency through family sponsorship channels.
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