Eleven individuals who were deported from the United States to Ghana have initiated legal action against the Ghanaian government, as confirmed by their attorney, Oliver-Barker Vormawor. He asserts that the deportees have not breached any laws in Ghana, which he claims renders their detention at a military camp unlawful. Vormawor is seeking to have the government present the detainees in court to explain the justification for their detention.
In response to the legal suit, the Ghanaian government has yet to issue a statement but has indicated plans to accept an additional 40 deportees. Opposition members of parliament are calling for an immediate halt to the deportation agreement until it has been ratified by parliament, citing requirements under Ghanaian law.
Last week, President John Mahama announced the arrival of 14 deportees of West African origin as part of an agreement with the US. Mahama stated that all deportees were returned to their home countries. However, this claim was contested by Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who stated that only the majority had returned. Vormawor’s court filing highlights that 11 deportees remain in detention in Ghana, contradicting the statements made by both Mahama and Ablakwa.
According to court documents, the 11 individuals were previously held in a US detention facility before being deported by a military cargo aircraft. These deportations are framed as part of the US government’s stringent immigration strategy introduced under President Donald Trump, who has committed to high levels of migrant deportations. Ghana’s foreign minister has characterized the country’s acceptance of deportees as driven by “humanitarian principles and pan-African empathy” while distancing the Ghanaian stance from an endorsement of US immigration policies. In a separate legal action, five detainees, including three Nigerians and two Gambians, are also suing the US government, claiming their deportation violated a court order protecting them.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn821dk851do?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss