Lawyer and activist Oliver Barker-Vormawor has raised fresh concerns about reports suggesting that Ghana has entered into a new arrangement with the United States to receive non-Ghanaian deportees.
In a post shared on his social media account, Barker-Vormawor drew a parallel with the controversy that erupted during former President John Mahama’s first term, when two Guantanamo Bay detainees were accepted into Ghana.
“During Mr. Mahama’s first term as President, he entered into a secret deal to accept Guantanamo detainees into Ghana.
“I spoke up against it and called the move tone-deaf,” he wrote. “This deal was challenged in the Supreme Court. And the Supreme Court held that the Executive did not have the power to make such deals without Parliamentary oversight and approval.”
Turning to current developments, he expressed alarm over reports of a similar arrangement.
“Now during his ‘legacy term’, I am hearing on the news that a new deal has been struck to bring in non-Ghanaian deportees from the US, to aid Trump’s political ambitions,” Barker-Vormawor said.
He urged government to clarify whether due process was followed this time. “Please tell me that at least this time that the President’s party has a 2/3rds majority in Parliament, that he submitted this deal to Parliament for approval.”
While stressing his disapproval of the alleged arrangement, Barker-Vormawor said his immediate concern was constitutional compliance.
“I do not agree that it looks good on us to sign up to be a dumping ground for the after effects of Republican racist immigration politics. But I will defer my true feelings on that for later. Just tell me that, we at least respected our constitution. Or that the news is wrong. Shalom.”
