Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has explained the rationale for the government’s failure to seek parliamentary approval before admitting some West Africa nationals deported from the United States into the country.
He says the two governments entered into a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), making a ratification a non-prerequisite.
So far, 54 deportees have been brought to Ghana, with 14 coming in a first batch, and a subsequent 40 coming later.
This was after the country had opted to serve as a temporary host for the individuals involved, who are natives of the West African sub-region, deported from the U.S.
The government has maintained that the gesture is purely humanitarian, despite the Minority’s criticism that the agreement should’ve been ratified by Parliament first.
Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said the MoU’s nature makes it part of routine diplomatic engagements and doesn’t require parliamentary scrutiny since it’s not legally binding.
“If you look at the work we do at the Foreign Affairs Ministry, on a daily basis, we could sign about 50 MoUs. If we were to bring MoUs—which are not legally binding—to Parliament, it would be impractical,” he explained.
“Our foreign policy will grind to a halt, and we will not be able to function. Notes of understanding, note verbale, cannot be treated as agreements or treaties, as we have been well advised by the Attorney General.”
The Minister, meanwhile, further disclosed to the House that the Attorney-General has notified his outfit of a suit filed by citizen activist, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, in connection with the matter.
“As such, we should be guided in our public discussions,” he cautioned.
Ablakwa reaffirmed that the gesture does not contravene any laws of the land and does not compromise the nation’s sovereignty since it is consistent with the country’s aged-long humanitarian commitments within the sub-region.
