The Minority Caucus on the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament has called on government to immediately suspend an agreement with the United States under which Ghana has begun receiving deportees of West African origin.
At a media encounter on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, President John Mahama disclosed that government had accepted to facilitate the return of West African nationals deported from the United States.
He revealed that an initial batch of 14 deportees had already arrived in Ghana and, at their request, were subsequently transported to their respective home countries.
But in a strongly worded statement issued on Friday, September 12, the Minority described the arrangement as unconstitutional and a threat to the nation’s sovereignty and foreign policy posture.
“Serious breach” of Constitution
Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel Abu Jinapor, argued that the deal violates Article 75 of the 1992 Constitution, which requires that all international treaties, agreements, or conventions be laid before Parliament for ratification before they can be executed.
“Government has failed to comply with this constitutional requirement,” the statement said. “We call on the Government to suspend, with immediate effect, the unconstitutional implementation of this agreement.”
The Caucus further demanded that no similar arrangements be implemented in future without the express approval of Parliament.
Questions of sovereignty and security
Beyond the constitutional arguments, the Minority raised concerns over the broader sovereignty and security implications of the deal.
According to the statement, the government’s decision effectively positions Ghana as a reception point for the US Government’s immigration enforcement regime — one the Minority described as harsh and discriminatory.
“This agreement raises pressing concerns of sovereignty, security, and policy,” the statement warned.
The Caucus insisted that government must provide clarity on the safeguards in place to protect Ghana’s national security and foreign policy interests, as well as disclose the exact timeline of when the agreement with Washington was reached.
Deportations and ECOWAS Protocol
The Minority also questioned the government’s reliance on the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement, arguing that the protocol deals strictly with voluntary migration within West Africa, not forced deportations orchestrated by a non-ECOWAS country.
They warned that Ghana risks sending the wrong signal to the region by appearing to act as a conduit for the United States’ controversial immigration policies.
Demand for transparency
Reiterating their position, the Caucus said Parliament and the Ghanaian people deserve transparency and accountability.
“Government must clarify whether this agreement was ever laid before Parliament and duly ratified in accordance with the dictates of the Constitution,” the statement said.
The Minority stressed that Ghana’s foreign policy must reflect the principles of sovereignty, legality, and fairness — not expediency.
