We only supported our fellow Africans – Ablakwa on why gov’t accepted deportees from US
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has addressed concerns regarding the government’s decision to receive some fourteen deportees from the United States, explaining that these individuals were only received in an attempt to solidarize with fellow Africans and should not be seen as a favor to the United States.
According to him, the country does not stand to gain any financial benefit from the United States as the acceptance of the said deportees was on a purely humanitarian basis.
During an appearance on Channel 1 TV’s Point of View on Wednesday, September 17, Ablakwa explained that Ghana stepped in to accept these deportees given the perceived violation of their rights in their detentions and particularly, given indications that help was not forthcoming.
“Let’s be clear, we didn’t agree to this because we agree with President Trump’s immigration policies, we are not doing the US a favor, we are doing our fellow Africans a favor, we are offering them refuge and hope, we want them to come back home and be comfortable
“We solidarize with them when we see those images, the arrests, the violation of their rights, being detained against their will and it is as though nobody wants to take them, so it was purely on humanitarian basis and we have made it clear that we did not accept any financial benefit whatsoever,” he clarified.
Ablakwa further explained that the acceptance was part of efforts to position Ghana as what he described as the Mecca for Africans and freedom fighters across the globe, adding that the country will always avail itself to help fellow Africans in distress.
On why the said fourteen individuals we deported to Ghana instead of their home countries, the Foreign Affairs Minister explained that Ghana was one of five African countries and the only West African country approached by the US government given the existence of a friendly diplomatic relationship, adding that the government of Ghana accepted these persons under the ECOWAS protocol which allows citizens of member states a 90-day visa free travel to any West African Country.
“So, we said West Africans already under the ECOWAS protocol can visit any country visa free and stay for 90 days, on principle, so on humanitarian grounds, Pan African solidarity, let us accept our fellow Africans and let’s make the point that Ghana is your home and we are not going to sit and watch our fellow Africans in distress,” he added.
When questioned whether these deportees will remain in the country or return to their home countries, Ablakwa indicated that the 14 can choose to stay in Ghana for up to 90 days but so far, all 14 of them have indicated their intentions to return to their home countries, adding that the government is working to facilitate their safe returns.
“The choice is theirs, for 90 days, if they want to stay here, they can stay, but so far all of them have indicated that they want to go back after some time, and we have been facilitating that,” he said, but disclosed that a second batch of 40 deportees a due to arrive in the coming days.
During the Presidential Media Encounter on September 10, President John Dramani Mahama disclosed that his government had received some 14 deportees from the United States of America, a decision which has since been criticized by the Minority in Parliament, accusing the government of bypassing parliamentary approval.
The government has however explained that the decision was guided by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which does not require parliamentary approval.
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