Ghana has agreed to accept West African nationals deported from the United States, with 14 individuals already processed through Accra, President John Dramani Mahama confirmed.
The agreement, reached following a request from the US, aligns with Ghana’s regional obligations under the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement, which allows citizens of member states to enter Ghana visa-free for up to 90 days.
The 14 deportees include several Nigerians and a Gambian, who were assisted by the Ghanaian government to return to their home countries.
Mahama explained that Ghana’s decision to accept West African nationals was based on the region’s free movement policy.
The US has been pressing African governments to participate in its deportation program as part of its efforts to deter illegal migration.
Ghana-US relations have experienced some strain, with the US imposing tariffs on Ghanaian goods and visa restrictions on its nationals.
However, Mahama described the relationship as remaining positive despite these challenges.
Other African countries, such as Rwanda, Eswatini, and South Sudan, have also received deportees from the US in recent months.
This development is part of the Trump administration’s hardline immigration drive, which aims to deport millions of undocumented immigrants and expand removals to third countries.
Some countries, like Nigeria, have pushed back against the deportation strategy, citing concerns over the safety and well-being of deportees.
