Ghana’s parliamentary opposition is demanding the immediate suspension of a deportation agreement with the United States, arguing the deal is being implemented without the constitutionally required ratification by lawmakers.

Speaking at a press briefing Wednesday, Samuel Abu Jinapor, the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, said the arrangement lacked the necessary parliamentary oversight and posed potential risks to national security.

“We therefore reiterate our call on the government to suspend, with immediate effect, the unconstitutional implementation of this agreement until Parliament has duly exercised its constitutional mandate to ratify same,” said Jinapor.

The opposition’s call comes amid growing scrutiny of the government’s handling of the repatriation arrangement, under which Ghana has agreed to receive deported nationals from the U.S. Jinapor demanded greater transparency regarding the terms of the deal, including any security protocols in place to vet returnees.

“We urge government to provide full clarity on the processes, safeguards, and broader implications associated with receiving these deportees, including the measures, if any, that have been taken to protect Ghana’s security interests,” he added.

The controversy echoes a 2016 political standoff, when the then-Mahama administration faced public and parliamentary backlash for accepting two former Guantánamo Bay detainees without prior legislative approval. That episode fueled debates over executive overreach and national security—issues that have resurfaced in the current dispute.

The Minority Caucus argues that bypassing Parliament undermines constitutional checks and balances and could expose the country to unforeseen security vulnerabilities. Government officials have not publicly commented on whether the agreement has been formally ratified or what procedures are in place to manage the arrivals.

The U.S. Embassy in Accra has also not issued a statement on the matter.