Ghana has agreed to accept West African nationals deported from the United States, President John Dramani Mahama announced, with 14 individuals, including Nigerians and a Gambian, already arriving in Accra.
Ghanaian authorities facilitated their return to their respective countries.
The decision comes after the US approached Ghana to accept third-party nationals being removed from the country, citing the ECOWAS free movement protocol, which allows West Africans to enter Ghana without a visa. Mahama justified the move, stating that West Africans “don’t need a visa anyway” to come to Ghana.
This development is part of the US’s intensified deportation efforts under President Donald Trump’s administration, which aims to remove millions of people living in the US illegally. Other countries that have received deportees include Eswatini, which received 5 individuals, South Sudan, which received 8, and Rwanda, which received 7 deportees and has an agreement to accept up to 250 migrants.
In contrast, Nigeria has rejected similar overtures from Washington, citing national security and economic concerns. Ghana’s decision reflects its commitment to regional cooperation while assisting the US in managing deportations.
