Former Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and current member of Parliament’s Security and Intelligence Committee, Charles Wiredu, has criticised the government for what he calls a troubling lack of transparency and parliamentary oversight regarding a recent agreement with the United States to accept deported West African nationals.
President John Mahama confirmed during a press briefing at Jubilee House on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, that Ghana had received 14 deportees under the arrangement, including Nigerian nationals and one Gambian.
He defended the move by citing the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement, which allows citizens of member states to enter and reside in other ECOWAS countries for up to 90 days without a visa.
But Mr. Wiredu has challenged both the process and the legality of the decision.
“I was taken aback when I heard the President make that announcement, as someone who has served as Deputy Foreign Minister and currently sits on the Security and Intelligence Committee, I can state categorically that no such agreement has ever been brought before our committee or, to my knowledge, to Parliament at all,” he said in an interview.
Wiredu argued that the government’s actions violate Article 75 of the 1992 Constitution, which mandates that any international treaty or agreement signed by the President must be submitted to Parliament for ratification.
“This is not just a procedural formality, it is a constitutional requirement. Bypassing Parliament undermines our democratic institutions and sets a dangerous precedent,” he warned.
He called for immediate transparency from the executive branch and urged Parliament to assert its constitutional role in overseeing international agreements, especially those with significant security and diplomatic implications.
