Ghana has agreed to accept West African nationals deported from the United States, President John Dramani Mahama announced on Wednesday. A group of 14 deportees, including Nigerians and one Gambian, have already arrived in the country, with the government facilitating their return to their home countries.
President Mahama justified the decision, stating that West Africans don’t require visas to enter Ghana, making the acceptance process straightforward. This move aligns with US President Donald Trump’s hardline approach to immigration, aiming to deport millions of immigrants in the US illegally and ramp up removals to third countries.
The agreement is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to deter immigration through high-profile deportations to third countries. Other African nations, such as Rwanda, Eswatini, and South Sudan, have also entered into similar agreements with the US. Rwanda, for instance, received seven migrants deported from the US in August, following an agreement to transfer up to 250 people.
While President Mahama did not specify a cap on the number of deportees Ghana would accept, concerns have been raised about the safety and well-being of migrants being deported to countries where they may not have strong ties.