Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin
The Minority Caucus on the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament has strongly criticised the government over an alleged agreement with the United States for Ghana to serve as a receiving point for West African nationals deported from America.
Reports indicate that 14 such deportees have already been admitted into the country under the arrangement.
In a statement signed by Ranking Member on the Committee, Samuel A. Jinapor, the Minority described the move as a “grave constitutional breach” and a direct affront to Ghana’s sovereignty and foreign policy.
“Article 75 of our Constitution is clear that any treaty, agreement, or convention executed by or under the authority of the President must be laid before Parliament and ratified. It is surprising that this government has chosen to ignore this constitutional requirement,” Jinapor stated.
The caucus drew parallels with the controversial 2016 case in which the Mahama administration admitted two Yemeni terror suspects from Guantanamo Bay without parliamentary approval, a decision later ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
“Beyond this blatant constitutional breach, the agreement raises pressing concerns of sovereignty, security, and policy,” the Minority warned.
They further argued that the arrangement risks undermining Ghana’s long-standing foreign policy principles.
“Ghana has built a proud reputation for principled diplomacy rooted in non-alignment, regional solidarity, and respect for human rights. To associate Ghana with the United States’ harsh immigration enforcement regime could damage our international standing,” the statement read.
The Minority called for the immediate suspension of the agreement until it has been laid before Parliament for ratification.
“We demand that government provides full clarity on when this agreement was reached, the safeguards in place, and the broader implications of receiving these deportees. No future agreements of this nature must ever be implemented without prior parliamentary approval,” Jinapor insisted.
