US deportees sue Ghana over detention
Eleven individuals who were deported from the United States have filed a lawsuit against the government of Ghana, claiming their detention in a military camp was unlawful. According to their lawyer, Oliver-Barker Vormawor, the deportees did not violate any Ghanaian laws, and their continued detention violates their basic rights.
The case was filed after the detainees were kept in a military facility without explanation or justification. Vormawor has called for the Ghanaian government to bring the deportees to court and clarify why they were held against their will.
Controversial deportation deal
The deportations are part of an agreement between the US and Ghana, which saw 14 deportees from West Africa arrive in Ghana. The Ghanaian government, however, has not commented on the lawsuit, though they have expressed plans to accept more deportees in the future.
Opposition MPs in Ghana have criticized the deal, calling for its suspension until parliament ratifies it, which they say is required under Ghanaian law. Ghana’s President John Mahama, who authorized the deportations, has defended the decision, framing it as part of a “humanitarian principle” and expressing that it does not reflect support for US immigration policies.
Deportees’ claims against the US
In a parallel lawsuit, five of the deportees — three Nigerians and two Gambians — have sued the US government, claiming they were protected by a court order that should have prevented their deportation.
The deportation deal is part of the US government’s hardline approach to immigration, which has seen record-level deportations under the Trump administration. Since his inauguration, President Trump has vowed to take a tough stance on migrants residing illegally in the country.
Growing concern over deportation practices
While Ghana’s foreign minister framed the deportation deal as a gesture of pan-African empathy, critics argue it highlights the growing trend of controversial immigration policies. The legal battles now unfolding in both Ghana and the US could have significant implications for the future of international deportation agreements and human rights protections.
As the case continues to develop, many are watching closely to see whether the Ghanaian government will adjust its position in response to the legal challenges.
