Six West Africans, originally deported from the United States, have recently been transferred to Togo. This development comes despite legal efforts by their representatives to prevent further deportations and address concerns for their safety. The group had initiated legal action against the Ghanaian government, which had agreed to accept them from the US.
Oliver Barker-Vormawor, the lead lawyer representing the deportees, confirmed that six individuals were sent to Togo, while the remaining deportees have been relocated to undisclosed countries. The specific nationalities of those sent to Togo have not been released, and the Togolese government has yet to comment on the matter.
The legal team has since withdrawn their case against the Ghanaian government, as the circumstances have changed due to the deportations. However, they are continuing with a separate legal challenge aimed at addressing alleged violations of their rights. The lawyers argue that the deportations have made it impossible for the authorities to present the individuals in court or legally justify their detention.
Last week, Mr. Barker-Vormawor expressed his frustration with the Ghanaian justice system, stating that the court had the opportunity to intervene and prevent the deportations. He had previously asserted that the deportees had not violated any Ghanaian laws, rendering their detention in a military camp illegal.
The deportees, who hail from countries including Nigeria, Togo, Liberia, and The Gambia, were held in US detention facilities before being transported to Ghana on a US military aircraft. The agreement for Ghana to accept deportees from various West African nations was announced by President John Mahama, who stated that the US had approached Ghana due to the free movement of people within West Africa.
Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, later clarified that the country would not receive any financial compensation for this arrangement. He also indicated that an additional 40 deportees were expected to arrive in Ghana soon. Opposition Members of Parliament have urged the immediate suspension of the US-Ghana agreement until it is legally ratified and have called for full transparency and accountability regarding the deal.
These deportations are part of the US government’s stricter immigration policies, implemented since President Donald Trump took office. The administration has committed to a high volume of deportations for individuals residing in the US illegally, with some being sent to countries with which they have no prior connections.
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