A Nigerian man deported from the US to Ghana has shared a harrowing account of being secretly transferred to Togo by Ghanaian officials. He and five others were allegedly told they’d be moving to better accommodation, but instead, they were smuggled across the border into Togo through a back route after officials bribed local police.
Key Details:
– The Circumstances: The group was deported from the US to Ghana as part of a US government program to remove West African nationals.
– The Struggle: They’re now stranded in a hotel in Lomé, Togo’s capital, without documentation or access to basic necessities.
– The Fear: One of the deportees, a member of the Yoruba Self-Determination Movement, fears persecution if he returns to Nigeria.
– The Impact: The deportee’s family in the US is struggling, and he’s worried about paying his mortgage and providing for his kids.
Reactions:
– Ghana’s Government: Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, defended the decision to accept the deportees, citing “pan-African empathy”.
– Opposition: Some opposition MPs have demanded the suspension of the deportation agreement until it’s ratified by parliament.
– Lawsuits: Lawyers for the deportees have filed legal action against both the US and Ghanaian governments, alleging human rights violations.
