Lawyer and activist Oliver Barker-Vormawor has accused the Ghanaian government of violating both national and international law in its handling of deportees from the United States.
Speaking on JoyNews’ AM Show, he alleged that Ghana has been unlawfully receiving individuals the US cannot deport to their home countries due to fears of persecution or torture.
According to Barker-Vormawor, more than 20 West African nationals, including a Sierra Leonean woman, were forcibly removed from a hotel in Accra on Tuesday, November 11, by officers of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS).
He explained that the individuals were among nearly 60 people received into the country under a bilateral arrangement between Ghana and the US.
“Our position is that the agreement violates Ghana’s Constitution and international law,” Barker-Vormawor asserted, adding that the process lacked proper legal authorization.
“Under Ghanaian law, you cannot deport a person without a court order. Two, you cannot do so without an executive instrument by the minister. None of that was in place at the time I arrived.”
He further disclosed that attempts to document the incident were suppressed.
“In fact, there was a journalist from RFI who tried to capture this. He was arrested, his camera seized, and compelled to delete the videos,” he said.
