The Labour Division of the High Court in Accra is scheduled to hear two ex parte applications on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, submitted by eleven West African nationals who are contesting their detention in Ghana following their deportation from the United States.
The applicants are pursuing two primary forms of relief: an interim injunction to prevent their deportation to their home countries, and a writ of Habeas Corpus that would mandate the government to bring them before the court and explain the grounds for their detention.
During a virtual session on Thursday, September 18, Justice Priscilla Dikro indicated that she needed additional time to review the applications prior to issuing a ruling.
The applicants’ counsel, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, contended that the situation is urgent, emphasizing that his clients are being held unlawfully.
The defense asserts that President John Dramani Mahama has already made public statements regarding the deportation of the detainees, a claim that has also been corroborated by the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Should the interim injunction be granted, it would prevent the government from moving forward with the deportations, while the writ of Habeas Corpus would obligate the state to provide a formal justification for the detention in court.
