A Ghanaian human rights organisation has dragged the government to court over its decision to accept deportees from the United States, describing the move as unconstitutional and unlawful.
Lawyer and activist Oliver Barker-Vormawor revealed that 14 West Africans arrived in Accra on Monday under an arrangement between Washington and Accra, bringing the total number of U.S. deportees received to 42.
Barker-Vormawor’s group, Democracy Hub, filed the lawsuit on Tuesday, insisting that the deal sidestepped parliamentary approval and violated international conventions meant to protect individuals from persecution.
Government spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu confirmed that the Attorney General’s office would defend the agreement in court but declined to offer further details.
The U.S government has been increasing deportations of undocumented migrants under a controversial programme first introduced during Donald Trump’s presidency, which allows for the transfer of migrants and offenders to third countries.
Since July, dozens of migrants have been deported to several African nations under largely secretive arrangements, including Ghana, Rwanda, and South Sudan.
Human rights organisations have condemned the policy as both inhumane and non-transparent, accusing the U.S of sending vulnerable people to nations where they risk detention, abuse, or persecution.
In September, lawyers representing some deportees told the Associated Press that 11 West Africans sent to Ghana were detained in harsh conditions at a military camp near Accra.
Ten of them were later forcibly deported to Togo, even though only two were Togolese nationals, Barker-Vormawor added.The U.S. has reportedly sent other deportees to Eswatini, South Sudan, and Rwanda, while Uganda also a signatory to the deal has yet to receive any migrants under the arrangement.
