Ghana government accused of crimes on famous US programme 60 Minutes

The government of Ghana has been accused of violating international law by allegedly deporting refugees to countries they fled, in a report aired on the renowned American television programme “60 Minutes”. In the report, United States (US) immigration attorney Meredith Yoon alleged that the US government was aware of Ghana’s conduct but continued to send deportees to the country despite concerns about their subsequent treatment. Yoon said the US government had been warned about Ghana’s conduct in a lawsuit filed last year. “There's no way the U.S. officials don't know what Ghana is doing to people that the U.S. supports there,” she said. She further alleged that the United States had sent 10 additional flights to Ghana despite the concerns raised, questioning the legality of the transfers. “If they didn't send Musa straight to Mali, they sent him to Ghana, who sent him to Mali,” Yoon said. “They sent him to Ghana with full knowledge that Ghana is systematically deporting refugees back to the very countries they fled.” The attorney also questioned whether US officials were deliberately ignoring evidence about the treatment of deportees transferred to Ghana. However, a US official, Percival, defended the deportation policy, arguing that the government had a responsibility to protect American citizens from individuals considered public safety threats. “I'd really like to talk about the public safety threats associated with this population of aliens and the fact that every administration before President Trump absolutely abdicated their responsibility to the American people by letting criminals back on the street and doing no diplomatic efforts to get these people out,” Percival said. He added that third countries, including Eswatini and South Sudan, had agreed to accept deportees with criminal records involving serious offences such as first-degree murder, armed robbery, kidnapping and sexual assault when their countries of origin refused to take them back. The report places Ghana's role in the US deportation programme under scrutiny, particularly over allegations that people transferred to the country are subsequently sent to places where they may face danger. The allegations raise questions about the responsibilities of countries accepting deportees and the extent to which the United States may be held accountable for the treatment of people it transfers to third countries. Forced Out, Unsafe: US deportee details how Ghanaian authorities allegedly sent him away Watch a video of the programme below: BAI/VPO Guns and Drugs: Dr Adam Bonaa Warns of Growing Security Threat to Ghana Source: www.ghanaweb.com
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