Ablakwa clarifies US deportee agreement, says no need for Parliamentary approval yet
Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has clarified that the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Ghana and the United States on the reception of West African deportees does not, at this stage, require parliamentary ratification.
Addressing public concerns over the deal, Mr. Ablakwa explained that the arrangement with Washington is an MoU and not a binding treaty, meaning it falls under the executive’s mandate and long-standing conventions that do not demand immediate parliamentary approval.
“As a nation that upholds the dignity and rights of all people, particularly those of African descent, Ghana’s actions were guided solely by moral responsibility, our legal obligations under the 1992 Constitution and ECOWAS protocols, and our Pan-African values,” he said.
The Minister stressed that strict safeguards are embedded in the agreement to protect national security.
“Under this understanding with the US, Ghana must first independently vet the background of those the US intends to deport to satisfy ourselves that they do not pose any threat to our country. Convicted hardened criminals cannot, and will not, be admitted. The Mahama administration will never compromise the security and well-being of Ghanaians.”
Mr. Ablakwa added that the MoU was carefully reviewed by Cabinet and the Attorney General before approval, noting that this approach follows precedents set by successive governments.
“I have inherited hundreds of MoUs from the previous administration which were not sent to Parliament for ratification,” he noted. “May I assure the nation that if this initial understanding is elevated into a full-blown agreement, we shall not hesitate to comply with Article 75 of the 1992 Constitution by proceeding to Parliament for ratification.”
His comments come amid growing scrutiny following revelations that Ghana has already received 14 deportees under the arrangement, including Nigerians and a Gambian.
Critics, among them former Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Charles Owiredu, have questioned the legal and constitutional basis of the deal, citing the absence of consultation with Parliament’s Security and Intelligence Committee.
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