Ghanaian human rights lawyer challenges legality of U.S. deportee detentions: Video
Human rights lawyer Oliver Barker-Vormawor has questioned the legality of Ghana’s continued detention of individuals recently returned from the United States under a bilateral agreement, saying the government has “no legal basis” to hold them, especially in military custody.
Speaking to Viory in Accra, Barker-Vormawor said both the Human Rights Court and the Supreme Court are reviewing petitions to determine whether the government’s actions breach Ghana’s Constitution and international law.
“The Ghanaian authorities have no legal basis to continue to detain these persons, much less in military custody,” he said. “We are hoping the court pronounces on the legality of the government’s action.”
He estimated that 42 individuals have so far been brought into the country, though his team has only verified the identities of 14. “We’re not in a position to say whether or not among those individuals are also Ghanaian nationals,” he added.
Barker-Vormawor described conditions at Bundase Military Camp, where several deportees are reportedly held, as “terrible,” citing lack of healthcare and poor food. “Bundase is a military training camp, not designed or habilitated for keeping civilians,” he said, noting that the situation may breach international detention standards such as the UN Mandela Rules.
He also warned that Ghana may be violating the Convention Against Torture, which prohibits returning people to countries where they face risk of harm.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
