Former Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has said the Minority in Parliament is not terminally opposed to the government’s arrangements with the Trump administration to bring deported foreigners to Ghana, but insists that the right procedures must be followed in order not to foul the Constitution and to ensure transparency.
Throwing more light on the controversial subject on Thursday, a day after addressing a press conference on the matter, the Ranking Member of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee stressed that the Minister of Foreign Affairs must come to Parliament to lay the policy and agreements before the House, .
He was speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show.
He maintained that the Minority members are not terminally against arrangements to receive other nationals, whom he described as “our brothers”, but said in order to ensure transparency, the constitution demands that the Minister persuade parliament by laying the arrangement before the house.
He pointed to Article 75 of the 1992 Constitution, which he said is “unambiguous” about the need for parliamentary ratification of international agreements.
According to him, any attempt to sidestep this procedure risks undermining constitutional propriety and setting a dangerous precedent.
Abu Jinapor said the government must be absolutely transparent about what arrangements it has entered into with the US government, so everyone knows what is in it for Ghana, explaining that there are very cogent reasons for the laid-down procedure, and it is in the interest of the government itself to respect it.
He said the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has indicated that the government does not intend to ratify the arrangements.
However, Mr. Jinapor warned that such a posture could amount to a flouting of the constitution, disclosing also that the Minority intends to file a parliamentary question on the matter and would also consider pursuing legal options if need be.
The Damongo MP noted that the operations of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have implications for Ghana’s diplomacy and national interest, and wondered why Ghanaians should not be told why they must accept such arrangements when countries like Nigeria have not.
He said these are legitimate questions the Minister must answer.
Mr. Jinapor stressed that foreign policy should always be conducted to promote national interest, and not to be subservient to external pressure, and that it behoves the Minister to make it clear if, as a nation, Ghana is in a cul-de-sac and must swallow policies even if they are detrimental.
The Minority, he maintained, is open to engagement but will resist any attempt to bypass constitutional requirements on international agreements.
Source: Isaac Yeboah
