Regulation: U.S.-Ghana Deportation Accord

A group of 14 individuals has recently been deported from the United States to Ghana, as part of an agreement between the two nations. This brings the total number of deportees accepted by the Ghanaian government to 42.

Democracy Hub, a legal representation group, has filed a lawsuit against the Ghanaian government. The lawsuit challenges the constitutionality of the agreement with the United States, arguing that it was not approved by the Ghanaian parliament and may contravene international conventions against deporting individuals to countries where they might face persecution.

Government spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu noted that the attorney general is set to defend the agreement in court, but provided no further comments.

The U.S. administration has intensified efforts to deport migrants, particularly focusing on those with criminal records. This initiative includes agreements with at least five African countries to accept deportees under a third-country deportation program.

Rights organizations have raised concerns about the transparency of this program, stating it can result in deportees being sent to countries where they have no connections and are potentially denied due process. Instances have been reported where migrants were deported to third countries despite their home countries being willing to accept them.

Last month, the U.S. deported an initial group of 14 West African nationals to Ghana. It was later reported that these individuals were subsequently sent to other West African countries such as Togo, Nigeria, and Mali. However, legal representatives indicated that 11 of these individuals were initially held in poor conditions at a military camp in Accra.

In July, the U.S. deported a group of five individuals to Eswatini, citing convictions for severe crimes. Since then, additional deportations have occurred to South Sudan, Rwanda, and Ghana. An agreement exists with Uganda, though no deportations have been reported there.

Currently, six deportees remain detained at an undisclosed location in South Sudan, while the whereabouts of seven deportees in Rwanda have not been disclosed.