Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, says strict safeguards have been put in place to ensure that hardened criminals are not resettled in the country under its agreement with the United States to accept some West African deportees.
“We have put in place strict safeguards to ensure that convicted hardened criminals cannot be brought into our country,” the Minister assured Ghanaians.
He emphasised that the government “will never compromise the safety and well-being of Ghanaians.”
“The Mahama Administration will never compromise the safety and well-being of Ghanaians.”
He further explained that humanitarian and Pan-African principles guided the Mahama administration’s decision. He said many of the individuals involved had been in detention under distressing conditions and risked deportation to unstable countries with poor human rights records.
“The Government of Ghana took the principled and humanitarian decision to accept a limited number of West African nationals deported from the United States under exceptional circumstances, in line with Ghana’s longstanding Pan-African ideals and regional solidarity,” he said.
His remarks were made during the Government Accountability Series at the Jubilee House on Monday, September 15, in response to mounting criticism. Reports that Nigerian and Gambian nationals had been relocated to Ghana sparked concerns, with opposition MPs accusing the government of undermining national sovereignty.
Mr Ablakwa stressed that the arrangement was not motivated by financial or material gain but was being managed in line with international humanitarian standards. He assured that the safety and dignity of Ghanaians remained the government’s priority while honouring constitutional and regional obligations.
