Deported West African Nationals in Ghana: Controversies and Concerns Surrounding Third-Country Deportation Agreements
Nineteen West African nationals who were deported by the U.S. to Ghana have been relocated to an undisclosed location, according to a lawyer representing one of the deportees. The group arrived in Ghana on November 5 and were initially accommodated in a hotel. Due to the risk of torture, persecution, or inhumane treatment in their home countries, they are shielded from deportation.
The whereabouts of the deportees remain unknown, with no contact established by the lawyer or the family of her client. Some of the group were transported by bus to an undisclosed border location between last weekend and Monday, while another group, including the lawyer's client, was moved with heavy armed guard from the hotel around Wednesday. The Ghanaian government has not responded to inquiries for comment.
Since July, the Trump administration has been deporting migrants to Africa through agreements with several African nations, including Eswatini, Rwanda, and South Sudan, under a new third-country deportation program. This program has been criticized by human rights experts for potentially violating international asylum-seeker protections and the lack of proper screening before deportation.
In an effort to deter illegal immigration and remove individuals accused of crimes or those unable to be deported to their home countries, the Trump administration has sought alternative deportation methods. Facing legal challenges preventing direct deportation to home countries, the administration has turned to agreements with third countries to accept deportees.
A Ghanaian rights group, Democracy Hub, has filed a lawsuit against the Ghanaian government, arguing that the deportation agreement with the U.S. is unconstitutional as it was not approved by the Ghanaian parliament and may breach conventions prohibiting sending individuals to countries where they could face persecution. The U.S. Department of Justice has stated that it cannot control how another country treats deportees and that Ghana has assured not to send the deportees back to their home countries.
The situation involving the deported West African nationals in Ghana highlights the complexities and controversies surrounding deportation policies and agreements between countries. The lack of transparency and concerns over human rights violations raise important questions about the treatment of migrants and asylum-seekers in the deportation process.