The Minority in Ghana’s Parliament is demanding the immediate suspension of the Ghana–United States deportation agreement, which it describes as unconstitutional and lacking parliamentary ratification.
Addressing the media in Accra on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Hon. Samuel Abu Jinapor, emphasized that the agreement has not been subjected to the constitutionally required legislative processes.
“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,” he stated.
He further called on the government to provide clarity regarding the processes and safeguards associated with the agreement, particularly in relation to national security.
“We urge the Government to provide full clarity on the processes, safeguards, and broader implications involved in receiving deportees, including any measures taken to safeguard Ghana’s national security interests,” Jinapor added.
The Minority caucus expressed concerns that bypassing Parliament undermines constitutional requirements and exposes the nation to potential risks.
This call for suspension follows recent proceedings at the High Court, where a case involving the deportation of eleven West African nationals was dismissed after it was revealed that the individuals had already been deported. The applicants—four Nigerians, three Togolese, two Malians, one Gambian, and one Liberian—had filed for an injunction to stop their deportation and also sought a writ of habeas corpus requiring the state to produce them in court.
Presiding Judge Priscilla Ofori acknowledged the case's national and international significance, stating, “I have perused the necessary order, and considering the fact that the case is of national and international interest, I am of the opinion that it would be in the interest of justice for the two motions brought ex parte to be brought on notice to the respondent for consideration.”
However, lead counsel Oliver Barker-Vormawor informed the court that the deportations had already taken place, rendering the applications moot.
“We had before the court two applications—one seeking a writ of habeas corpus and another for an interim injunction to prevent the deportation of the applicants. Unfortunately, when we appeared last Thursday, the court adjourned the matter to this morning and declined our request to grant an interim order preventing their removal,” he explained.
The Minority insists that until Parliament formally ratifies the deportation agreement, its implementation should be put on hold to uphold constitutional integrity and ensure adequate national safeguards.
Source: MyNewsGH.com
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