Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has confirmed Cabinet’s approval of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Ghana and the United States, which will allow the former to temporarily host certain West African nationals deported from the U.S. under a third-country arrangement.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series on Monday, September 15, Mr. Ablakwa clarified that the MoU is not a binding treaty and emphasized Ghana’s independent vetting process.
“Let me emphasize that under this understanding with the United States, Ghana must first independently vet the background of those the U.S. intends to deport, to satisfy ourselves that they do not pose any threat to the security of our country and that they cannot harm our citizens,” he said.
He assured the public that stringent safeguards are in place to prevent the entry of hardened criminals.
“The Mahama administration would never compromise the safety and well-being of Ghanaians.”
The Minister noted that the arrangement was thoroughly reviewed by Cabinet and the Attorney General before approval. Addressing constitutional concerns raised by the Minority in Parliament, he explained:
“By established convention, MoUs are not sent to Parliament for ratification. I have inherited hundreds of MoUs from the previous administration, which were not sent to Parliament for ratification. May I assure the nation that if this initial understanding is elevated into a full-blown agreement, we shall not hesitate to comply with Article 75 of the 1992 Constitution by proceeding to Parliament for ratification.”
President John Dramani Mahama had earlier confirmed Ghana’s acceptance of a limited number of deportees on humanitarian and Pan-African grounds. He disclosed that the first group of 14 individuals including Nigerians and Gambians had arrived in Accra and were later assisted to return to their home countries.
“The government of Ghana took the principled and humanitarian decision to accept the limited number of West African nationals deported from the United States under exceptional circumstances, in line with Ghana’s long-standing Pan-African ideals and unwavering commitment to regional solidarity,” President Mahama stated.
Mr. Ablakwa emphasized that Ghana’s cooperation is not motivated by financial or material gain.
“Our decision is grounded purely on humanitarian principles and Pan-African solidarity to offer temporary refuge where needed, to prevent further human suffering, and to maintain our credibility as a responsible regional actor. Ghana’s decision must be understood as an act of Pan-African empathy. It is not transactional like Rwanda, Eswatini, Uganda, or South Sudan.”
He also made it clear that the arrangement should not be interpreted as support for U.S. immigration policies under President Donald Trump.
“Since the days of our forebears, Ghana has hosted freedom fighters, welcomed Africans in the diaspora, offered them safe haven, resources, citizenship, and even passports. That is why we are seen as the maker of Pan-Africanism. We shall not depart from that inspiring track record.”
Meanwhile, Mr. Ablakwa highlighted achievements under the Foreign Affairs Ministry’s Operation Retrieve and Account for Lands (ORAL) initiative. He reported the recovery of state lands in the Airport Residential Area, the halting of illegal diplomatic property sales in Lagos and Lusaka, and the cancellation of a $3.5 million renovation contract in Abidjan.
He underscored the ministry’s commitment to transparency through competitive procurement processes.
“Every single contract has gone through a competitive, credible process from passport courier services to cleaning contracts. Competitive procurement is now the mainstay.”
Mr. Ablakwa added that ORAL has received international backing, citing President Mahama’s recent visit to Singapore, where a bilateral framework was established to support Ghana’s anti-corruption institutions, including EOCO, CHRAJ, OSP, and the Police CID in forensics.
