Eleven West Africans transferred from the United States to Ghana under an agreement with the Trump administration have been deported again, their lawyer confirmed on Tuesday, raising concerns about possible torture or persecution in their home countries.
Oliver Barker-Vormawor, who represents the group, said at least six of the deportees are now in Togo, while the whereabouts of the other five remain unknown. The group comprises four Nigerians, three Togolese, two Malians, one Liberian and one Gambian.
The Ghanaian government has not commented on the deportations. Earlier this month, President John Dramani Mahama said his administration had agreed to temporarily receive nationals from other West African countries deported from the US under former President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.
Last week, Barker-Vormawor filed a lawsuit in Accra seeking to block the deportations of 11 of the 14 individuals initially transferred to Ghana. He argued that at least eight had been granted protection by US immigration judges on grounds of potential torture or persecution.
At a court hearing on Tuesday, he told the judge the deportations had already taken place over the weekend, forcing him to withdraw the case. He also cited reports that another 14 deportees had recently arrived in Ghana, though he said he could not confirm them.
The Ghanaian government has previously said its acceptance of the deportees was not an endorsement of Trump’s immigration policy and that no compensation was received for the transfers.
