Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama announced at a press conference on Wednesday that Ghana has agreed to receive nationals from several West African countries who have been expelled by the United States under a bilateral agreement. As per the agreement, a total of 14 individuals, including some Nigerians and a Gambian, have already arrived in Ghana, although the exact number of deportees that Ghana will receive was not specified.
President Mahama highlighted the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) protocol on free movement, which allows citizens of member countries to stay or reside in other West African nations for up to 90 days without requiring a visa. Ghana has assisted Nigerian nationals in returning home by bus, while the repatriation process for the Gambian individual is still ongoing.
The President mentioned that the United States had approached Ghana to accept nationals from third countries who were being deported, and Ghana agreed to receive nationals from West African countries due to the visa-free access West African citizens have when traveling to Ghana.
Describing Ghana’s relationship with the United States as “becoming tense,” President Mahama noted the imposition of tariffs on Ghanaian goods by the U.S. and the implementation of visa restrictions on Ghanaian citizens. However, he emphasized that the bilateral relationship remains positive.
Through cooperation with the U.S. government, Ghana can receive economic development assistance, such as funds for reintegration programs, vocational training, or infrastructure projects, from the United States.
In efforts to curb illegal immigration, the Trump administration has been engaging with several African countries to accept deportees, some of whom are from Jamaica, Vietnam, and Laos. As part of its crackdown on illegal immigration, the U.S. deported seven individuals to Rwanda last month, five to Eswatini in July, and eight to South Sudan.
(The article was based on reporting by the BBC)