Minority Demands Suspension of Secret US Deportee Agreement, Cites Constitutional Breach

The Minority Caucus on the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament has accused the government of violating the Constitution by secretly implementing an agreement with the United States to accept third-party deportees.

At a press conference in Accra on Wednesday, Ranking Member Samuel Abu Jinapor urged the government to halt the arrangement immediately, insisting it undermines national security and tarnishes Ghana’s international reputation.

“We 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,” Jinapor declared.

Citing Article 75 of the 1992 Constitution—which mandates parliamentary approval of all international agreements—he referenced several Supreme Court rulings, including Banful v. Attorney-General, which reinforce the requirement.

“The attempts by the Minister to downplay this agreement in the face of this clear provision of the Constitution are very disturbing,” he added, dismissing the Foreign Affairs Minister’s claim that the deal, described as a Memorandum of Understanding, did not need parliamentary approval.

The Minority warned that the deportee deal not only breaches Ghana’s laws but also threatens sovereignty and security. They further argued that aligning with U.S. immigration policies, which have faced global criticism as discriminatory, risks entangling Ghana in controversial foreign practices.

According to the Caucus, some deportees are already in detention in Ghana and have taken legal action against the state, alleging violations of their fundamental rights.

Beyond the deportee matter, the Minority also criticised the government’s handling of foreign policy, particularly its stance on the Gaza conflict. They took issue with the Foreign Minister’s recent comments labelling the crisis as genocide and affirming Ghana’s solidarity with Palestine.

While acknowledging humanitarian concerns, Jinapor cautioned against abandoning Ghana’s traditional principle of neutrality.

“By describing the events in Gaza in absolute terms and aligning the country explicitly with one side in a highly polarised conflict, the Government risks compromising the delicate balance that has long safeguarded Ghana’s credibility as an impartial actor on the international stage,” he warned.

The Minority reaffirmed its resolve to protect Ghana’s sovereignty, uphold the Constitution, and preserve the country’s reputation as a principled and respected actor on the global stage.