Former Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has urged government to present before Parliament the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Ghana and the United States on the repatriation of some African deportees from the US.
Speaking on the Super Morning Show on Joy FM on Thursday, Mr Jinapor reiterated concerns he raised at a press conference on Wednesday, where he condemned the government’s decision to accept deportees from the United States without parliamentary ratification.
He argued that placing the MoU before the House would ensure transparency and allow lawmakers to scrutinise the terms of the agreement.
“To adhere to the principles of an accountable democracy and governance, it is just proper that the government lays the MoU before parliament. So it is absolutely transparent for parliament to get the opportunity to scrutinise this and ratify it or otherwise.”
Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has maintained that constitutionally, an MoU is not required to be laid before Parliament.
Some 40 African deportees from the US have arrived in the country recently, and the Foreign Minister says 40 more West Africans deported from the USA will also arrive in the country soon.