The Mahama government in Ghana in its haste to get the 200 Ghanaians who have sought asylum relieve from the Brazilian government seems to have given the Asylum seekers the lifeline they need to make their application legitimate. If these asylum seekers didn't have a legitimate fears to get their asylum applications approved, now they have one; FEAR OF GOVERNMENT PROSECUTION AND IMPRISONMENT.
'Though this is another national and international embarrassment to Ghana, the government need not ask Brazil government for their deportation. In fact, such a request would give them a legitimate cause to seek asylum as they can claim that if they are returned to Ghana, they would face prosecution and imprisonment.' ---Kofi Ata, Cambridge, UK---
"The Government of Ghana has asked its Brazilian counterpart to deport over 190 Ghanaian soccer fans seeking Political asylum in the South American Country after being flown to watch the World Cup on government sponsorship.Chief Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Kojo Christian told Joy FM "We do not believe that there is any reason that can be advanced to support a request for the grant for asylum as in international law and practice. "We've made our position clear and its left for the Brazilian government to take a decision on it..., well we prefer they can back to Ghana,"Yes (We want them deported) and when their visas expires they have no other business in Brazil and they have to be brought back".
According to the International Convention and Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees, Brazil has an obligation to ensure that their applications are properly considered and assessed before a decision is taken. Brazil therefore cannot deport them at the request of Ghana government, the very government that may have failed to ensure their safety and security and for which they may be seeking asylum and protection from the Brazilian state.
But Ghana's foreign affairs ministry has contacted the Brazilian government to make sure the Ghanaian fans are sent back home upon the expiration of their visas.Chief Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Kojo Christian told Joy FM "We do not believe that there is any reason that can be advanced to support a request for the grant for asylum as in international law and practice".
Mister Director, you should not have asked the Brazilian government to send them home. All you should have done was to tell the Brazilian government there is no such conflict in Ghana and the Brazilian government that was going to investigate their application for asylum through its Embassy in Accra would have found out these people don't have a legitimate case to be granted asylum. What you have done though not stated can be inferred that, they people face prosecution if they are sent back home. They can get their families to get newspaper publications in Ghana calling for their prosecution and imprisonment which can be grounds to get their case approved.
It's very sad how this government seems to react to issues without thinking through it. They did the same when $3 million "chartered" a Presidential plane like a Taxi "dropping" and Ghana ended up paying $510,000 in taxes, (17% on 3 million dollars) money that we could have deducted on the Players appearance fees as taxes if we have paid them in Ghana before they left Ghana for Brazil.
Justice Sarpong
(CARDINAL of TRUTH)
