The National Coordinator of the District Roads Improvement Programme (DRIP), Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye, has defended the government’s decision to accept deportees from the United States, insisting it was guided by Ghana’s cultural values of hospitality rather than foreign pressure.
He made the remarks on Channel One TV amid ongoing public debate over the arrival of deported Ghanaians from the U.S.
So far, 14 deportees have been received, with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, announcing that about 40 more are expected.
The Minority in Parliament has called for an immediate suspension of the arrangement, accusing the government of bypassing parliamentary approval, which they say violates a Supreme Court ruling requiring all international agreements—including treaties, MoUs, and diplomatic notes—to be ratified by Parliament before becoming legally binding.
Responding to these concerns, Mr. Vanderpuye emphasized that the government’s decision was rooted in humanitarian principles.
“A lot of our folks prefer to stay over there, even if it’s in the American prisons. They are displeased and angered against us for having received them. It is understandable, but we are also looking at the human factor. Would you allow your fellow human being to be dumped in Guantánamo Bay to be treated unjustly and inhumanely, or would you want to open your gates to them?” he asked.
Drawing on his cultural upbringing, he explained that hospitality shaped the government’s approach.
“As a person of Ga descent, I have been brought up to receive people no matter the situation. Once someone knocks on your door, you warmly receive the person and get them some water to drink, as custom demands. I think that is what has informed the government and the minister in handling this matter,” he said.
Mr. Vanderpuye also underscored the importance of long-term strategies to address migration challenges.
“We must begin to look at how we can be self-reliant and implement policies that make Ghana a more peaceful nation, so that our people can live in peace rather than seeking greener pastures elsewhere,” he added.
Source: Adomonline
