LONDON, United Kingdom, November 12, 2015/APO (African Press Organization)/ —
The UK has signed a compulsory prisoner transfer agreement with Ghana to allow transfer of prisoners between each country.
Signed during a visit to the West African nation by international development minister Grant Shapps, the agreement provides for the transfer of prisoners with or without their consent, subject to approval by the receiving state.
Signing the agreement with the Ghanaian Deputy Attorney-General, Grant Shapps said:
Removing foreign national offenders is a key priority for the British Government and the agreement I have signed this morning plays an important role in supporting this from now on.
This is also a further example of the close relationship between the UK and Ghana and underlines our commitment to remove prisoners who have no right to remain in the United Kingdom.
This is an important achievement for the UK and will be the latest such compulsory agreement the UK has with another country. The Government is committed to negotiating further compulsory transfer agreements wherever it can.
This arrangement will support the rehabilitation and reintegration of prisoners from both countries into the communities in which they will live.
