The Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has called on the government to submit a recent agreement between Ghana and the United States—regarding the acceptance of deported persons—for parliamentary approval in line with the 1992 Constitution.
Speaking during a leadership presser on Wednesday, October 22, during the opening of the Third Meeting of the First Session of the Ninth Parliament, Mr. Afenyo-Markin said it had come to light during the recess that the government had entered into an arrangement with the U.S. to accept certain deportees.
He described the development as a major foreign policy decision that must not be executed in secrecy or without parliamentary scrutiny, insisting that such agreements are constitutionally required to go through Parliament under Article 75.
“Agreements of such magnitude should be subject to parliamentary scrutiny under Article 75 of the 1992 Constitution,” the Minority Leader stressed. “We will demand that this arrangement be brought before Parliament for ratification.”
Mr. Afenyo-Markin warned that bypassing parliamentary approval on international agreements could set a dangerous precedent, undermining democratic accountability and Ghana’s sovereignty in global affairs.
He emphasised that foreign policy decisions must always reflect the nation’s values and uphold its dignity, cautioning the government against compromising national interests for political or diplomatic convenience.
“Ghana’s foreign policy must never be conducted in secrecy, nor should we compromise our sovereignty for expediency,” he said. “We urge the government to always place Ghana’s dignity first and ensure that any international agreements reflect our values and command the confidence of the Ghanaian people.”
Concluding his remarks, Mr. Afenyo-Markin reminded Parliament that Ghana’s progress over the years has been built on visionary leadership and the resilience of its people, urging the government to uphold transparency and constitutionalism in all its dealings with international partners.
“Ghana’s story is one of triumphs achieved through visionary leadership and the indomitable spirit of our people,” he said.
Source: citinewsroom.com
