Eleven West African nationals recently deported from the United States have withdrawn a legal application they filed at Ghana’s High Court challenging their removal and alleged unlawful detention upon arrival in the country.
The group, represented by human rights lawyer Oliver Barker-Vormawor, had sought an ex parte injunction from the Human Rights Division of the High Court in a bid to halt the deportation process and compel the Ghanaian state to produce them in court.
However, the application was discontinued following their deportation.
In an interview with Citi News, Barker-Vormawor expressed disappointment with what he described as systemic delays in Ghana’s judicial system, which he said undermined the deportees’ ability to access justice.
He further stated that the individuals were denied their fundamental right to be heard and accused the state of acting outside the bounds of the Constitution.
The group is now considering taking the matter to the ECOWAS Court of Justice in Abuja, Nigeria, to pursue redress for alleged human rights violations.
In affidavits submitted to the court, the deportees allege they were secretly removed from U.S. detention centers between September 5 and 6, 2025, without any prior notice or explanation. They claim they were shackled and forcibly transported to Ghana, despite having no legal or personal connection to the country.
Upon arrival, they were reportedly handed over to Ghanaian authorities and confined in what they described as a military facility, where they were denied access to legal counsel or judicial oversight.
The eleven individuals—comprising nationals from Nigeria, Togo, Liberia, Gambia, and Mali—subsequently filed a lawsuit against the Attorney-General, the Chief of Defence Staff, and the Comptroller-General of the Ghana Immigration Service.
In their suit, they argued that their detention violated provisions of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, including Article 14(1), which guarantees personal liberty, and Article 23, which ensures the right to administrative justice.
They also cited the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits the return of individuals to countries where they may face persecution or torture.
The group includes Nigerian nationals Daniel Osas Aigbosa, Ahmed Animashaun, Ifeanyi Okechukwu, and Taiwo K. Lawson; Liberian national Kalu John; Togolese nationals Zito Yao Bruno and Agouda Richarla Oukpedzo Sikiratou; Gambian national Sidiben Dawda; and Malians Toure Dianke and Boubou Gassama.
Although the initial legal challenge in Ghana has been withdrawn, Barker-Vormawor emphasized that the deportees are determined to seek justice and hold the responsible institutions accountable.
The case is expected to reignite debate about Ghana’s cooperation with international deportation operations, and the treatment of foreign nationals—particularly those with contested immigration status—within its borders.
