Manhyia South MP, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, has criticised Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa over Ghana’s agreement with the United States to accept West African deportees under a third-country arrangement.
The MP, who is also a lawyer, said the minister’s approach undermines the seriousness of the office he occupies.
“In my humble opinion, I think the minister has taken a very simplistic view of this matter, and it is quite worrying.
“If you like, very respectfully, if I may take the liberty to state that it exposes him in terms of his appreciation of the office he holds, and the issues that are supposed to be dealt with by the office.
Read also: Cabinet approves U.S. deportees MoU, it’s not a full agreement – Ablakwa clarifies
“Particularly within the context of the constitution of this country and the security and safety of its people,” he said on Joy News’ PM Express on September 24.
Nana Baffour Awuah stressed that any discussion on the deal must begin with a clear understanding of why the U.S. is deporting people from other countries.
“For us to appreciate what we are dealing with, we need to begin from the basis upon which the US is taking the current action of deporting people from different countries,” he argued.
His comments come after the Foreign Minister confirmed that Cabinet has approved Ghana’s participation in the deportation arrangement.
Read also: Six West Africans deported to Ghana from US sent to Togo despite legal fight
Mr Ablakwa said on September 15 that the agreement with the U.S. is currently only a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and not a binding treaty.
He assured that Ghana would independently vet the background of any deportees before they are accepted.
He emphasised that no one who poses a security risk would be admitted into the country, insisting that the Mahama administration would never compromise the safety of Ghanaians.
