Former Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and current member of Parliament’s Security and Intelligence Committee, Charles Wiredu, has criticised what he describes as a lack of parliamentary scrutiny and transparency over Ghana’s agreement with the United States to accept deported West African nationals.
President John Dramani Mahama, during a media engagement at Jubilee House on Wednesday, confirmed that 14 deportees, including Nigerians and one Gambian, had been received in Ghana under the arrangement.
He explained that Ghana had no objection to hosting citizens of other ECOWAS states, given the Protocol on Free Movement which allows nationals of member countries to enter and reside in fellow states for up to 90 days without a visa.
However, in an interview with Citi FM on Thursday, September 11, Mr Wiredu raised concerns about the legality of the decision, insisting that Parliament had not been consulted.
“I was a bit curious when I heard the President speak about this because apart from the fact that I once served as Deputy Foreign Minister, I am also a member of the Security and Intelligence Committee. I can state on authority that nothing of this nature has ever been brought before us,” he remarked.
Wiredu emphasised that all such agreements must comply with constitutional requirements under Article 75 of the 1992 Constitution, which stipulates that international treaties or agreements signed by the President must be ratified by Parliament.
Citing the provision, he warned that any attempt to bypass parliamentary approval undermines democratic accountability and due process.
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Source: myjoyonline.com
