Ayariga Defends Ghana’s Acceptance of ECOWAS Deportees from the U.S., Citing 90-Day Entry Rights

Majority Leader in Parliament and Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga, has defended Ghana’s controversial third-party deportation arrangement with the United States, insisting that it does not violate any law.

The agreement allows Ghana to receive and temporarily hold West African nationals deported from the U.S. under immigration policies introduced during former President Donald Trump’s administration. The deal has faced strong criticism from the Minority in Parliament and sections of the public, who argue that it contravenes Article 75(2) of the 1992 Constitution because it was not ratified by Parliament.

Addressing the House on Friday, October 24, Mr. Ayariga maintained that the arrangement aligns with the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, which grants citizens of member states the right to enter and stay in another ECOWAS country for up to 90 days without a visa.

“Every ECOWAS citizen has the right to board a flight and disembark in Ghana. They can fly from the United States and stay in Ghana for up to 90 days. Therefore, receiving such individuals cannot be deemed unlawful,” Ayariga stated.

He emphasized that the agreement merely facilitates the existing rights of ECOWAS nationals and should not be viewed as a breach of Ghana’s sovereignty or constitutional order.

“If a citizen of an ECOWAS country chooses to land in Ghana from the U.S., it is a natural consequence of their regional mobility rights. So, I don’t see any problem with the arrangement,” he added.

Meanwhile, civil society group Democracy Hub has filed a lawsuit at the Supreme Court challenging what it describes as a “secret and unconstitutional” deportation pact between Ghana and the U.S. government.

Filed on Monday, October 13, the suit names the Attorney General and the Minister for Foreign Affairs as defendants. The group is seeking 28 reliefs, including:

A declaration that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is unconstitutional, null, and void.
An injunction to halt further deportations under the deal.
An order restraining the government from detaining deportees in military facilities.

Source: modernghana

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