By Love Wilhelmina Abanonave
Lawyer for former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, Frank Davies, says his client is in the United States legally and is not an illegal immigrant, as claimed in some reports.
Lawyer Davies explained on Joy News’ Newsfile that Ofori-Atta lawfully entered the US on a visa issued for medical and professional purposes but later applied for an extension and adjustment of status due to medical considerations that required him to remain in the country beyond the original period granted.
Ofori-Atta’s visa was set to expire on February 14, 2025, and he had started the process to get it extended.
Lawyer Davies argued that Ofori-Atta is cooperating fully with US immigration authorities and has a pending petition for adjustment of status, which allows him to stay in the US legally beyond the validity of his original visa.
He insisted that the extradition proceedings requested by the government have nothing to do with Ofori-Atta’s current immigration status.
Ofori-Atta is currently being held at the Caroline Detention Facility in Virginia, and his US legal team is working to resolve the matter.
