Minority Criticizes Gov’t Over US Deportee Deal | By David Kwakutse | The Minority in Ghana’s Parliament has strongly condemned the government’s decision to accept West African deportees from the United States under a bilateral arrangement, describing it as a “grave constitutional breach” and an affront to Ghana’s sovereignty.
Their reaction follows President John Mahama’s confirmation at a Presidential Media Encounter that Ghana had received the first batch of 14 West African nationals deported from the US under the Trump Administration’s immigration enforcement policy. Thirteen of the deportees were Nigerians, while one was Gambian. Ghana facilitated their return by providing buses for the Nigerians and coordinating with the Gambian Embassy to repatriate the lone Gambian national.
While President Mahama defended the arrangement as being consistent with the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement, which allows citizens of member states to stay visa-free in Ghana for up to 90 days, the Minority says the deal undermines Ghana’s foreign policy traditions and compromises its sovereignty.
In a statement signed by Mr. Samuel Abu Jinapor, Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee, the Minority accused the government of secretly entering into the deal without parliamentary approval.
“The Minority describes the move as a ‘grave constitutional breach’ and a direct affront to Ghana’s sovereignty and foreign policy,” the statement read. “Beyond this blatant constitutional breach, the agreement raises pressing concerns of sovereignty, security, and policy.”
The statement argued that Ghana risks damaging its hard-won reputation for principled diplomacy, rooted in non-alignment, regional solidarity, and human rights. Associating with what it called the United States’ “harsh immigration enforcement regime” could, it warned, stain Ghana’s international image.
The Minority is therefore demanding an immediate suspension of the deal until it has been laid before Parliament for ratification. It also wants the government to disclose when the agreement was reached, what safeguards are in place, and the broader implications of receiving deportees from outside Ghana’s borders.
“No future agreements of such nature must ever be implemented without prior parliamentary approval,” the statement concluded.
