Ghana Welcomes West African Deportees Under New Agreement with the US

Thu Oct 23 2025 04:24:47 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Ghana has agreed to accept deported individuals from the U.S. as part of a diplomatic agreement aimed at managing undocumented migration. President Mahama confirms the arrival of 14 deportees, including nationals from Nigeria and The Gambia.

In a recent agreement with the U.S., Ghana has consented to accept West African nationals deported from America. Following this pact, 14 deportees have already arrived in Ghana. This move aligns with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) protocol on free movement, with President Mahama emphasizing the collaborative nature of this initiative.

Ghana has become the latest country to accept people deported from the US as part of its campaign against undocumented migrants.

President John Mahama said nationals from various West African countries would now be taken in following a bilateral agreement with the US. He stated that 14 had already arrived.

He cited the regional bloc Ecowas's free movement protocol that allows citizens of member states to enter and reside in other West African countries without a visa.

Last month, the US deported seven migrants to Rwanda while in the previous month five were sent to Eswatini and eight others to South Sudan.

The 14 people already deported to Ghana include several Nigerians and a Gambian, according to the president. He did not specify the total number of deportees the country would take.

Mahama explained that Ghana had already facilitated the return of the Nigerians back to their country by bus, while the Gambian was still being assisted to go back.

We were approached by the US to accept third-party nationals who were being removed from the US. And we agreed with them that West African nationals were acceptable, Mahama said.

He added, All our fellow West African nationals don't need visas to come to our country.

President Mahama also commented on the relationship with the US, describing it as a tightening situation due to increased US tariffs on Ghanaian goods and visa restrictions imposed on its nationals. Despite these challenges, he noted that relations remain positive.

The Trump administration has approached multiple African nations to take in deportees as part of its immigration strategy. Notably, Nigeria has openly opposed such demands, asserting that it would not agree to accept deported individuals from the US.