Oliver Barker-Vormawor raises concerns over attempted deportation of Belgian national without court order

Lawyer and human rights activist Oliver Barker-Vormawor has raised concerns over the attempted deportation of Belgian citizen Aminata Bangoura, alleging that the process was initiated without a court order.

According to Mr Barker-Vormawor, Ms Bangoura was transferred from the Cantonments Police Station to the Kotoka International Airport on Wednesday morning for deportation, despite what he described as the absence of a judicial directive.

In a post on social media, the lawyer claimed his client had requested the presence of her legal representative before any further action was taken.

“At 7am, my client Aminata Bangoura was removed from Cantonments Police Station and sent to Airport to deport her. Without any court order,” he wrote.

He further alleged that Ms Bangoura had locked herself in a washroom at the airport while insisting on having access to her lawyer.

“She has since locked herself in the toilet at the Airport and is demanding that her lawyer be present,” he added.

Mr Barker-Vormawor also claimed that attempts to engage officials of Interpol Ghana over the matter had not been successful.

“I have been at Interpol since morning asking to meet the director without audience,” he stated.

Ms Bangoura, a Belgian national, was arrested in Ghana on August 5, 2026, following an Interpol Red Notice issued by Guinea. She was detained after arriving in the country from Paris.

The lawyer said his client had expressed fears about her safety should she be returned to Guinea, citing her association with Brigadier General Amara Camara.

Mr Barker-Vormawor questioned why the relevant legal procedures could not be followed before any deportation decision was implemented.

“What would prevent us from according the person the minimum due process?” he asked.

He further called for respect for Ghana’s human rights obligations, both under domestic law and international conventions.

“Does any of our human rights obligations both domestic and international mean anything to us?” he added.