Rights lawyers sue Ghana over third-country deportation deal with the U.S.

An international coalition of human rights lawyers sued Ghana on Tuesday, alleging the government violated the rights of people deported from the U.S. under a third-country agreement. The case was filed at the Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States and is the first brought under a 1979 regional treaty on free movement across West Africa.

The coalition represents 27 people among at least 60 deported to Ghana since September 2025. According to the coalition statement, Ghana agreed to accept the deportees, hold them, and arrange their onward removal, even though most had received U.S. court orders protecting them from return to their home countries.

Conditions described in the lawsuit The coalition said most of the 27 individuals were flown from Ghana to their home countries within hours or days of arrival, despite informing Ghanaian authorities of their U.S. protections. Some reported being shackled during the flight from the U.S. and held under armed guard in military camps, hotels, and airport cells after reaching Ghana.

Medical evaluations cited in the suit found signs of post-traumatic stress and severe depression in several of the 27 people. The lawsuit asks the regional court to halt further transfers, require Ghana to release the agreement terms, award damages, and bar the country from entering similar deals.

Regional context Ghana is one of at least nine African nations that have signed third-country deportation agreements with the U.S. The coalition also filed a similar case earlier this month against Equatorial Guinea before Africa’s top human rights body. A spokesperson for Ghana’s government did not immediately respond to requests for comment.