Eleven Africans deported by the US to Ghana on Sept. 6 have sued the Ghanaian government over their deportation and continued ‘‘detention.’’
Initially, Ghana’s President John Mahama announced that Ghana had received 14 deportees, including Nigerians and a Gambian, and that they had been sent to their countries of origin.
Now, fresh details are emerging. Eleven of the deportees have filed a lawsuit at a Ghanaian high court against Ghana’s government for its involvement in their deportation.
They are also challenging their continued ‘‘detention in Ghana’’, demanding the court to enforce their fundamental human rights.
Court documents shared with journalists by the deportees’ lawyers show that they included nationals from Nigeria, Togo, Mali, Gambia, and Liberia.
Their lawyers say the migrants “were removed in secret from their detention centres in the United States, shackled and transported without notice or explanation, and placed on a military cargo operated by the United States government.”
Five of the deportees, three Nigerians and two Gambians, have also reportedly sued the US government, challenging their deportation.
The US and Ghana have not yet publicly commented on the lawsuits.
However, the US Justice Department had said that once the migrants were placed in Ghana, Washington had no control over what would follow.
On its part, the Ghanaian government said its decision to receive the deportees from the US was based on “humanitarian concern” and “Pan-African” solidarity to ensure Africans are not maltreated in the US.
Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, said earlier this week that Ghana did not receive any financial benefits from the US regarding the deportation.
The Trump administration in the US has been widely criticised for its controversial deportation policy – sending “illegal” migrants to third-party countries against their wish.
Other African nations that have received deportees from the United States include Eswatini, Rwanda, and South Sudan. Uganda has also agreed to a deal with the US to take certain deported immigrants, although it has yet to receive any.
