Dr Antwi-Danso questions humanitarian basis of Ghana-US deportee agreement

Renowned expert in Security and International Relations, Dr Vladimir Antwi-Danso, has stated that Ghana’s agreement with the United States of America (USA) to receive West African deportees cannot be explained solely on humanitarian grounds.

His comments follow President John Dramani Mahama’s revelation last week that 14 West African nationals deported from the US had arrived in Ghana under the arrangement.

The deal comes in the wake of US President Donald Trump’s aggressive immigration policies, which have seen record deportations of migrants living in the country illegally.

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In a 3news.com report on September 19, 2025, Dr Antwi-Danso said it was inconceivable that Ghana would enter into such a diplomatic agreement without guarantees of reciprocal benefit.

“It is never true that in such diplomatic relations you will go on humanitarian grounds and get nothing. Even on humanitarian grounds, something is promised. There is no way any relationship is made on the grounds of one side winning and the other side losing. We couldn’t have taken them without any promise given us,” he stressed.

Dr Antwi-Danso also questioned why the US negotiated directly with Ghana rather than with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

“Why should America’s immigration problem be Ghana’s problem and not that of ECOWAS? Why did America not negotiate with ECOWAS? What role is Ghana playing, and who is paying for their upkeep here?” he asked.

Meanwhile, lawyers representing 11 of the deportees have filed two separate applications at an Accra High Court, challenging their continued detention in Ghana.

Lead Counsel, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, argued during a virtual hearing on Thursday, September 18, 2025, that there is no legal basis for holding the foreign nationals, drawn from Nigeria, Liberia, Togo, Gambia, Niger, and Mali.

He filed an injunction to restrain the government from repatriating them, and a habeas corpus application to compel the state to produce them in court.

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Barker-Vormawor further contended that contrary to claims by President Mahama and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Okudzeto Ablakwa that the deportees had been repatriated, they were still being held at military bases in Ghana.

He maintained that an injunction was necessary to prevent their possible forced return to countries where they risked torture or persecution.

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