On the floor of Parliament, Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has addressed the House regarding the deportation of Ghanaians from the United States and the government’s response to their reintegration.
His statement provided clarity on figures related to the deportation, the role of international organizations, and the government’s commitment to ensuring the welfare of the returnees.
Hon. Ablakwa addressed concerns regarding the discrepancy between the number of Ghanaian deportees listed on the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) website and the actual number communicated to the Ghanaian authorities.
“The 3,228 on the ICE website has been there for more than two years. We have probed those numbers, and our mission tells us that a lot of people contained in that ICE database have gone through appeals and have been successful with the appeals. The ICE will have to amend that data, but they haven’t done that. That is why you have that figure on their website.”
Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa Minister of Foreign Affairs
He assured Ghanaians that the officially confirmed number of deportees is 150 and urged the public to disregard the outdated figures on various websites.
Hon. Ablakwa addressed concerns about the government’s engagement with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in handling deportees. Some Members of Parliament questioned why IOM was not mentioned in his previous reports.
“Yes, we didn’t include IOM in the list for the 15th February meeting because they were not at that meeting. We were just reporting on what happened at the stakeholders’ meeting.”
Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa Minister of Foreign Affairs
He, however, clarified that the government has been in separate discussions with IOM on reintegration strategies.
“We cannot expect much from IOM because they have become victims of the executive orders by President Trump. They don’t have a lot of funding these days for what they have traditionally been doing. This means we have to look within and come up with our resources to take care of our people.”
Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa Minister of Foreign Affairs
Funding and Cost of Deportations
A key concern raised was whether the Ghanaian government was bearing the cost of deportation.
“Let me place on record that the U.S. authorities are bearing the cost. They are paying the ticket fares for the deportation of our nationals. We are only to facilitate providing the travel certificate and making sure that as the receiving country, we are ready to receive them.”
Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa Minister of Foreign Affairs
He assured Parliament that Ghana is not incurring any financial burden for these deportations.
Hon. Ablakwa also sought to address fears that the returnees might pose security risks.
“So far, I can confirm that the profiling we have done shows that these are indeed Ghanaians, but they are not hardened criminals. They are decent people who were in search of greener pastures and did not regularize their stay as quickly as they should.”
“They are hardworking, decent Ghanaians, very harmless. What they need is our empathy and our care, and we should really look out for them and show them compassion.”
Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa Minister of Foreign Affairs
He further emphasized that the government has been monitoring the returnees and is collaborating with NADMO to ensure their smooth reintegration.
Additionally, he urged Parliament to approve budgetary allocations for skills training and business startup support for deportees.
”Many were arrested in a rushed manner and could not access their savings or valuables. We need to extend support services to them, and I can give you the firm assurance that we will do that.”
Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa Minister of Foreign Affairs
Protection Against Stigmatization
Recognizing the stigma that deportees often face, Hon. Ablakwa assured Parliament that the government is protecting their identities to prevent discrimination.
“When we welcome them at the airport, we do it off-camera. We don’t go with media to disclose their identities because of the issue of stigmatization.”
Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa Minister of Foreign Affairs
Hon. Ablakwa also addressed concerns about Ghanaians in detention camps in Panama and Costa Rica.
“If you go to the camps in Panama or Costa Rica, you will not find any Ghanaians there. The only two who made it there have opted to be integrated in those countries.”
Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa Minister of Foreign Affairs
Hon. Ablakwa concluded his address by reaffirming the government’s commitment to ensuring the well-being of the returnees and appealed for national unity in assisting them.
His statement underscored the importance of national responsibility in managing deportation cases, while also highlighting the government’s proactive efforts to ensure humane reintegration for affected individuals.
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