Ghana has deported at least six West Africans to Togo after they were expelled to Accra as part of a US immigration crackdown under President Donald Trump.
The deportees, hailing from Nigeria, Togo, Mali, Liberia, and Gambia, were among 11 individuals who had sued the Ghanaian government to halt their deportation.
According to their lawyer, Oliver Barker Vormawor, one of the deportees was released to a relative in Ghana, while six were confirmed to have been sent to Togo. The fate of the remaining deportees remains unclear, with Vormawor suspecting they might have also been sent to Togo, but contact hasn’t been established.
These individuals were seeking asylum in the US, citing persecution based on religious, political, or sexual orientation grounds. Vormawor emphasized that the Ghanaian government’s decision to deport them raises serious human rights concerns.
The deal between Ghana and the US has sparked controversy, with opposition groups criticizing the government for not consulting parliament. Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, maintains the decision was based on humanitarian grounds and doesn’t imply endorsement of US immigration policies. More deportees are expected, with Ablakwa confirming 40 additional individuals will arrive in the coming days.
This development is part of Trump’s administration’s expanded deportation practices, including sending people to countries other than their nation of origin. The specifics of the deportations to Ghana, which began in early September, remain largely undisclosed.
The situation highlights the complexities surrounding immigration policies and human rights. As more deportees arrive, concerns about their treatment and safety continue to grow.
