Some 104 deportees from the United States of America (US) refused to disembark from the plane that transported them from that country to Ghana due to what they described as inhumane treatment meted out to them by US authorities.
The deportees made up of 54 Ghanaians and 50 Liberians, embarked on the action to express their displeasure over their alleged maltreatment.
They claimed the US officials were being hypocritical in their deportation as they were not treated with dignity while onboard the plane en route to Accra.
Some of them who spoke to Class 91.3FM’s Atiewin Mbilla-Lawson in an interview on Wednesday, 2 November said although their deportation had nothing to do with criminal issues, they were handcuffed and treated as criminals by the US authorities in Louisiana and even while on board the plane.
According to them, when they reached the Kotoka International Airport, the authorities attempted to take off the handcuffs to create the impression that they were treated with respect, an act they thought was hypocritical.
One of the deportees said: “They (US Authorities) handcuffed us, they handcuffed us before we boarded the plane that is why we say we are not getting down unless they allow us to get down with the handcuffs for everybody to see how they have been treating us, that is why we said no, we are not getting down….They called some immigration officers (at the airport) to come and talk to us but we said no we want to come down with the handcuffs and so they said we should come down. They handcuffed us in the United States. My waist, hands and my legs were all cuffed. Both legs [were cuffed] so you cannot even walk, you cannot eat, you cannot do anything.”
Another deportee narrated: “We have been handcuffed from Monday to today, a lot of people here (Kotoka Airport) today saw it, if you think I am lying you can ask the people around. If you want to urinate you struggle in the handcuff before passing urine”.
Another disgruntled deportee indicated that: “We all left Ghana to America to go and better our future so we passed through Brazil to Colombia and some of us even died on the way…now the people handcuffed us, they only gave us bread and water from morning till evening so when we came here (Kotoka) a lot of the people were fighting them that you cannot deport us empty handed, we need money to go home.”
Source: Classfmonline
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No matter their crimes they deserved better treatment than they received.This is clear remembrance of the slavery days. Now they dont come for us we surrender to them for them to treat us with impunity. Africans must wake up! How can non-ciminals be put in chains stocks and cuffs in this twenty first century? God save us from these inequalities. I dont think the suspected murderer of the two officers in Iowa in the states would be treated they same way these guys were treated. It is a big shame.
SHAME ON THE SO CALLED AFRICAN LEADERS JUST OUT OF ENVY AND GREEDYNESS MESS OUR COUNTRIES UP FOR US TO SEEK GREENER PASTURES IN OBAMA LAND.IN DONALD TRUMP'S LAND IT WOULD BE WORSE EVEN OBAMA HIMSELF WOULD NOT BE SAFE. THOSE AFRICAN PRESIDENTS SHOULD BE KID OUT.CHIEF THEEEEEF OF THEM IS RAWLINGS.ONLY TIME WILL TELL.
Entering someone's country without proper documentation I believe it's a crime on its own that's why u deported in the first place so why are you complaining. It's been said over n over again that people should always weigh their options very well b4 embarking on such disastrous journeys but most people don't pay heed to it until they face the consequences. I believe they were treated that way to deter them from ever dreaming of embarking of such journeys. The youth must always tread cautiously when it comes to seeking greener pastures because at least "HOME SWEET HOME". Hope they have learnt their bitter lessons.Akwaba.
Our shelfish and greedy leaders are the Africans sickness but God will surely deal with them all in his own time
Rather unfortunate that some people gave messed up the country and the African continent as well, and that even coming to your own country is now a challenge but take heart the good Lord will see you through
Welcome back home guys . Get ready to face the realities of Oman Ghana.