The Parliament of Ghana has summoned Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, to appear before it on Friday, February 28, 2025, to address concerns regarding the deportation of Ghanaian nationals from the United States of America.
This follows calls from Members of Parliament, particularly the Minority, urging the government to implement measures to support returnees and manage migration more effectively.
Speaking in Parliament on Friday, February 21, 2025, the Member of Parliament for Assin South, Reverend John Ntim Fordjour, raised concerns over what he described as violations of the human rights of some Ghanaians being deported from the U.S. as a result of a recent crackdown on illegal immigration.
“Mr. Speaker, what is most distressing about these deportations is not only their scale but the inhumane treatment our citizens endure at U.S. detention centers before their forced removal.
“Stories in news reports paint a grim picture of our fellow citizens subjected to degrading conditions: overcrowded and unsanitary holding facilities, shackles on their hands and feet, denial of legal representation, physical and verbal abuse, lack of medical care, and, in many cases, outright violations of their fundamental human rights,” he stated.
John Ntim Fordjour, who is also a former Deputy Minister of Education, highlighted the issue of reintegration for deportees, emphasizing the need for the government to implement measures to help them resettle in Ghanaian society.
“These Ghanaians, though facing deportation for various reasons, remain our brothers and sisters. We simply cannot turn a blind eye to their suffering,” he stated.
He urged the Ghanaian government to leverage diplomacy to ensure more humane and appropriate treatment of Ghanaians affected by the crackdown.
Source: www.ghanaweb.com
