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Ghana has formally agreed to receive deported migrants from the United States, becoming the latest African nation to support Washington’s ongoing campaign against irregular migration. The arrangement, announced by President John Dramani Mahama, includes the return of West Africans who were residing in the U.S. without proper documentation.
According to the president, 14 deportees have already arrived in Ghana, comprising several Nigerians and one Gambian. Ghanaian authorities have since organized onward transportation for the Nigerian nationals to return home by bus, while the Gambian migrant is still receiving assistance for repatriation.
Regional Framework Cited
President Mahama emphasized that the decision aligns with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) free movement protocol, which allows citizens of member states to enter, live, and work in other West African countries without the need for a visa.
“We were approached by the U.S. government to accept third-party nationals from the West African region,” Mahama explained. “We agreed on the basis that citizens of ECOWAS countries are welcome in Ghana, as our shared protocols allow for visa-free entry.”
Wider U.S. Deportation Strategy
The move comes amid a broader U.S. initiative under the Trump administration to intensify deportations of undocumented migrants worldwide. Recent months have seen similar transfers to Rwanda, Eswatini, and South Sudan, with seven, five, and eight individuals sent to those countries respectively.
The U.S. has also pressed other African and non-African governments, including Nigeria, Jamaica, Vietnam, and Laos, to accept deportees. However, not all countries have cooperated. Nigeria, in particular, has resisted the pressure, publicly rejecting U.S. requests to take in deported third-country nationals.
Diplomatic Balancing Act
President Mahama noted that Ghana’s relations with the United States remain broadly positive, despite challenges such as increased tariffs on Ghanaian exports and visa restrictions on Ghanaian nationals. He described the current situation as “tightening,” but stressed that the bilateral relationship continues to be significant for both nations.
Human Rights Debate
The U.S. deportation strategy has drawn criticism from human rights groups, who argue that forcibly relocating individuals, often to countries where they are not citizens, may infringe on international human rights protections. Advocates have called for greater transparency and safeguards to ensure deportees are not placed at risk.
For Ghana, the agreement underscores its role as a regional hub for West African mobility while highlighting the difficult balance between upholding ECOWAS obligations and navigating external diplomatic pressures.