The Minority in Parliament has emphasised the need for parliamentary oversight following Ghana’s agreement with the United States to serve as a receiving point for West African nationals deported from America.
Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday, September 24, Samuel Abu Jinapor, Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee, cited constitutional provisions requiring ratification of international arrangements.
Abu Jinapor stated: “The government of President Akufo-Addo in consonance with Article 75 of our constitution laid before parliament a Defence Corporation Agreement with the United States of America for ratification even though the said agreement had not been signed. The Supreme Court held that the then government was right in laying the said agreement before parliament for even such unsigned agreements to come under Article 75 once government take steps to implement same.
“It is therefore irrelevant whether the agreement is signed, or it is called an agreement or a memorandum of understanding or by exchange of note verbales, parliamentary ratification is required for the implementation of any such agreements.”
However, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has pushed back, insisting that the current arrangement does not require parliamentary approval. He explained that the understanding with the U.S. is a memorandum of understanding (MoU), not a binding treaty, and therefore falls within the executive’s mandate.
“I have inherited hundreds of MoUs from the previous administration which were not placed before Parliament,” Mr Ablakwa said. “If this understanding matures into a full-blown agreement, we shall not hesitate to seek parliamentary ratification.”
The divergent positions highlight ongoing debate over the scope of executive power in foreign affairs and the role of Parliament in scrutinising international commitments with potential security and migration implications.
Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has announced that Ghana is set to receive 40 more West African deportees from the United States in the coming days.
The disclosure comes in the wake of Minority criticism over the government’s earlier admission of 14 deportees, with accusations that officials bypassed parliamentary approval.
