Africa-Press – Ghana. Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Foreign Affairs Minister, has defended the government’s decision to accept African nationals deported from the United States of America (USA), saying it is a humanitarian gesture and not a binding agreement.
The country has received 54 deportees so far, with 14 in the first batch and an additional 40.
Answering an urgent question in Parliament on Wednesday, November 19, Mr Ablakwa explained that the arrangement was based on a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that did not require ratification.
“Mr Speaker, if you look at the work we do at the Foreign Affairs Ministry, on a daily basis, we could sign about 50 MoUs. If we were to bring MoUs to Parliament, it would be impractical,” he said.
Mr Samuel Abu Jinapor, a New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Damango, asked the Minister how many Ghanaians were affected by Executive Order 14159 of the President of the USA, titled, “Protecting the American People Against Invasion” and the measures the ministry had put in place to ensure their safety.
Mr Ablakwa emphasized that Ghana’s acceptance of the deportees was consistent with its humanitarian commitments within the sub-region and did not compromise national sovereignty.
He said, “Mr Speaker, our foreign policy will grind to a halt, and we will not be able to function. As such, we should be guided in our public discussions,” he urged.
However, the Minority had criticized the arrangement, arguing that Parliament should have approved the process.
Also, a citizen activist, Mr Oliver Barker-Vormawor, had also filed a lawsuit against the government, claiming the deportees faced risks if sent back to their home countries.
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