Deported US Nationals Challenge Ghana's Detention Policies

Tue Oct 21 2025 06:22:32 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A group of deported individuals from the US are suing the Ghanaian government for their alleged illegal detention. This situation raises questions about international deportation practices and the legal rights of those affected.

Eleven individuals detained in Ghana after being deported from the US have filed a lawsuit against the Ghanaian government, claiming their detention is illegal since they have not violated local laws. The deportees were previously held in a US facility and were transported to Ghana in military aircraft. Their lawyer insists that their continued detention must be justified in court. Meanwhile, Ghana's opposition demands a pause on all deportations until parliamentary approval is secured. The case highlights the complexities of international deportation agreements and human rights concerns.

Eleven people detained in Ghana after being deported from the US have sued the West African nation's government, their lawyer has told the BBC.

Oliver-Barker Vormawor said the deportees had not violated any Ghanaian law, and their detention in a military camp was therefore illegal.

He wanted the government to produce the group in court and justify why they were being held against their will, the lawyer added.

The government has not yet commented on the lawsuit but has previously stated that it plans to accept another 40 deportees. Opposition MPs demand an immediate suspension of the deportation deal until parliament ratifies it, arguing that this is necessary under Ghanaian law.

Last week, Ghana's President John Mahama announced that 14 deportees of West African origin had arrived in the country following an agreement with the US. However, he later claimed all had been returned to their countries of origin, a statement contradicting Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who indicated that only most had been sent back.

Vormawor's court application counters both narratives, asserting that 11 deportees remain detained in Ghana.

These individuals had previously been held in a US detention facility before being shackled and deported in a military cargo aircraft.

The deportations are part of the US government's strict immigration policy under President Trump, who aims for record-level removals of undocumented migrants.

Ghana's foreign minister stated that accepting the deportees was based on humanitarian principle and pan-African empathy, clarifying it should not be seen as an endorsement of US immigration policies.

Additionally, five of the detainees, including three Nigerians and two Gambians, have sued the US government, claiming that they were protected by a court order and should not have been deported.