The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has dismissed reports claiming that a United States immigration court found the criminal charges it filed against former Finance Minister Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta to be not credible.

In a statement issued by the office, led by Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng, and seen by classfmonline.com, the OSP said it had noted media reports and a publication attributed to a Ghanaian law firm alleging that Mr Ofori-Atta had been granted permanent residency in the United States after an immigration court rejected the credibility of the criminal charges against him.

The OSP described this claim as inaccurate.

The office clarified that it has no involvement in Mr Ofori-Atta's immigration proceedings in the United States, noting that its role is confined to extradition proceedings pursued through Ghana's Attorney-General, who acts as the central authority in such matters.

It further explained that the extradition request is not before the US immigration court, and that only the courts in Ghana, which have jurisdiction over the criminal case, can determine the credibility of the charges against Mr Ofori-Atta.

The OSP stressed that Mr Ofori-Atta remains a Ghanaian citizen and is still liable to be extradited to Ghana should the extradition court in the United States decide accordingly.

The statement was issued in response to reports linking Mr Ofori-Atta's reported US immigration status to the criminal case being pursued against him in Ghana.