“Ghana would not have accepted U.S. deportees without some form of assurance or commitment from the American government – Vladmir Antwi-Danso.”
By Vision1 FM
Copyright vision1fm
Ghana’s Deal with U.S. Over West African Deportees Not Just About Humanitarianism – Dr. Vladimir Antwi-Danso
International Relations Expert, Dr. Vladimir Antwi-Danso, says Ghana’s decision to receive West African deportees from the United States likely involved more than just a humanitarian gesture.
His remarks follow former President John Dramani Mahama’s recent revelation that 14 West African nationals were flown into Ghana after a formal arrangement between the two countries.
The agreement coincides with the continuation of U.S. immigration crackdowns under President Donald Trump’s administration, which has seen a sharp rise in deportations of undocumented migrants.
Speaking on TV3’s News360 on Thursday, September 18, 2025, Dr. Antwi-Danso stressed that such international agreements are rarely, if ever, based purely on goodwill. According to him, it’s reasonable to believe that the Ghanaian government received some form of incentive or benefit from the U.S. in return.
“Let me be clear — it’s never the case that diplomatic arrangements of this nature are made solely on humanitarian grounds without something in return. Even where humanitarian concerns are involved, there’s usually some form of understanding or promise,” he noted.
“In international diplomacy, no country agrees to something that only benefits the other party. It’s always about mutual interest. So it’s fair to assume Ghana was offered something in exchange before agreeing to take in these deportees.”
Dr. Antwi-Danso also questioned why such an arrangement wasn’t made with ECOWAS, the regional body representing West African nations, rather than singling out Ghana.
“Why is Ghana bearing the weight of America’s immigration challenges alone? Why didn’t the U.S. approach ECOWAS instead? What role is Ghana playing here, and who’s footing the bill for the deportees’ stay?” he asked.
Legal Challenge Over Detention of Deportees
Meanwhile, legal representatives for eleven of the West African deportees have taken the matter to court, contesting the legality of their continued detention in Ghana.
Lawyer Oliver Barker-Vormawor, who is representing the group, has filed two separate legal applications at an Accra High Court:
One seeks to restrain the government from repatriating the deportees, and
The other, a habeas corpus application, demands that the government produce the individuals in court.
The deportees, who are nationals of Nigeria, Liberia, Togo, Gambia, Niger, and Mali, are reportedly still being held at military facilities, despite public assurances by President Mahama and Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa that they had already been repatriated to their respective home countries.
During a virtual court session on Thursday, September 18, Barker-Vormawor challenged those claims, stating:
“There is no court order backing their detention, and time is of the essence. The President and Foreign Affairs Minister have publicly declared that these individuals have been returned to their countries — yet they are still being held here.”
He warned that sending them back without due legal process could expose them to human rights abuses such as torture or political persecution, hence the need for urgent judicial intervention.
