A Nigerian man deported from the United States says Ghanaian authorities secretly moved him and other West Africans to Togo. He told the BBC that Ghana’s officials misled them with false promises of new housing.
According to the man, Ghana first placed the group in a military camp. Officials then told them they would move to better accommodation. Instead, they took the group through an unofficial border route into Togo at night.
The deportees include three Nigerians and a Liberian. They now live in a hotel in Lomé without passports or legal documents. They survive on support from relatives abroad and help from hotel workers.
The man described poor conditions at the Ghanaian camp. He said they lacked clean water, healthcare, and proper food. He accused the officers of bribing local police to escort them through the border.
He fears returning to Nigeria because of his links to the Yoruba Self-Determination Movement. He claims U.S. courts had granted him protection before deportation.
The group has filed a legal case against both the U.S. and Ghana. They argue that the forced transfer violated their human rights.
Ghana’s government, through Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, denied wrongdoing. He said Ghana accepted the deportees from the U.S. out of “pan-African empathy.” Authorities maintain they followed international protocols.
Meanwhile, human rights advocates have called for an investigation. They urge Ghana and the U.S. to ensure fair treatment for all deportees.
The stranded group continues to appeal for international help and safe relocation.
