Suspend unconstitutional Ghana-US deportee agreement with immediate effect — Minority to gov’t

The Minority in Parliament has demanded the immediate suspension of the Ghana–United States agreement on third-party deportees, describing it as unconstitutional.

Under the deal, Ghana has already received 14 West African nationals from Nigeria and The Gambia who were later assisted to return to their respective countries.

Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has indicated that about 40 more deportees are expected in the coming days.

Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, September 24, Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel Abu Jinapor, said the agreement was which was not laid before Parliament for ratification, makes its implementation unlawful.

“The government’s conduct in operationalising the agreement with the United States without parliamentary ratification is a direct constitutional violation of Article 75 and an affront to the authority of the Supreme Court,” Mr. Jinapor stated. “It is therefore deeply concerning that the government continues to operationalise the agreement despite this flagrant constitutional breach.”

He urged the Mahama-led government to suspend the arrangement until Parliament exercises its constitutional mandate and to provide full details of the process.

“We therefore reiterate our call on the government to suspend, with immediate effect, the unconstitutional implementation of this agreement until Parliament has duly exercised its constitutional mandate to ratify same,” the Minority said in a statement.

They further called on government to explain the safeguards and broader implications of receiving deportees, including measures to protect Ghana’s security interests.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Affairs Minister, in an interview on Accra-based Channel One TV, explained that the deal is only a Memorandum of Understanding and does not require parliamentary ratification unless it is elevated into a full agreement.