- Ghana’s Newscenta editor asserts accepting deportees is standard practice, not a humanitarian favour.
- Deportations from the U.S. have been ongoing for decades across multiple administrations.
- Many individuals leave the U.S. voluntarily or through court orders, not just on flights.
- Parliamentary Minority calls for suspension of the U.S. deportation arrangement.
- Opposition claims the deal violates Article 75 of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution.
- Receiving deportees without parliamentary approval is said to breach a Supreme Court ruling.
- Tensions emerge between routine repatriation procedures and constitutional oversight.
Elvis Darko, editor of Newscenta Newspaper, has clarified that Ghana is not extending a special favour to other countries by accepting deportees from the United States. He emphasized that deportations have been a standard practice by U.S. administrations for decades and that Ghana is simply following routine procedures rather than engaging in humanitarian support.
Darko highlighted that while some individuals are returned on official flights, others leave the U.S. through court orders or voluntary departure. He stressed that Ghana’s role is limited to receiving citizens who are legally required to leave the U.S., not providing assistance on behalf of foreign governments.
In contrast, the Parliamentary Minority has raised concerns about the legality of the arrangement, urging the government to suspend the deportation agreement with the U.S. They argue that the deal bypasses constitutional requirements, particularly Article 75 of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, which mandates parliamentary approval for all international agreements. The Minority contends that receiving deportees without Parliament’s ratification violates Supreme Court rulings and undermines the nation’s legal framework.
The disagreement underscores tensions between routine international arrangements and constitutional oversight, with the government’s actions facing scrutiny from opposition lawmakers.
