JUST IN: First Batch Of US Deportees Land In Accra As Ghana Takes Them In

JUST IN: First Batch Of US Deportees Land In Accra As Ghana Takes Them In

Ghana has started receiving West African nationals deported from the United States, including Nigerians, President John Dramani Mahama confirmed on Wednesday.

Reuters reports that the first group of 14 deportees  comprising Nigerians, a Gambian, and others  had already arrived in Accra, where Ghanaian authorities are coordinating their return to their home countries.

“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 because all our fellow West Africans don’t need a visa to come to our country,” he said.

Mahama defended the move, noting that West Africans “don’t need a visa anyway” to enter Ghana.

The development comes as Washington steps up its deportation campaign under President Donald Trump, who has pushed for removals to “third countries” in line with his tough immigration stance.

Trump has previously overseen deportations to Eswatini, South Sudan, and Rwanda, despite warnings from rights groups over safety concerns.

Nigeria, however, has refused similar requests. Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar stated in July that the Federal Government would not take in deportees from outside the country, citing national security and economic reasons.

On July 9, Trump hosted five West African leaders at the White House — from Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal with one of the main goals being to persuade them to accept deportees from other nations.