The Sierra Leone High Commission in Accra is speaking out after disturbing video footage surfaced showing a Sierra Leonean woman, Madam Rabiatu Mariama Kuyateh, being forcefully handled while in custody at a Ghana Immigration Service detention facility.
Kuyateh, who had been deported from the United States to Ghana, was held in Accra before being removed to Sierra Leone on Wednesday, November 12th. The video, which spread quickly online, has triggered outrage among Sierra Leoneans in Ghana and back home, raising serious questions about how she was treated and why she was repatriated without consular access.
In a strongly worded statement, the Sierra Leone High Commission said it shares the public’s concern and considers the incident “a serious matter that warrants full clarification, accountability, and preventive action.”
Once officials confirmed the woman’s identity and verified the footage, the Mission launched urgent diplomatic engagements with top levels of the Ghanaian government—contacting the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister for Interior, and senior leadership at the Ghana Immigration Service.
According to the High Commission, they demanded immediate assurances regarding Kuyateh’s safety, a formal inquiry into the conduct of the officers involved, and a review of the steps taken in her deportation process. Despite these interventions, Ghanaian authorities did not grant the Mission access to her on the day she was placed on a flight to Freetown.
Ghana’s Interior Minister has since informed Sierra Leonean officials that an internal investigation has begun within the Immigration Service. The High Commission says it will be monitoring that process closely.
In its message to the Sierra Leonean community in Ghana, the Mission stressed that it remains committed to protecting the rights and dignity of its nationals, urging the public to stay calm and to reach out directly for updates or to raise concerns.
“We will continue to pursue all appropriate diplomatic avenues,” the statement read, adding that the goal is a “fair and responsible conclusion” and stronger safeguards to prevent a similar incident in the future.
The High Commission says ensuring the safety and welfare of Sierra Leoneans in Ghana remains its top priority.
