Ghana is set to receive another 40 West African nationals deported from the United States in the coming days, as confirmed by Ghana’s Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
This follows an agreement struck between the Ghanaian government and Washington, announced last week.
The practice of deporting undocumented immigrants to third countries rather than their original home nations has been a significant part of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s stringent immigration crackdown. Previously, hundreds have been sent to countries like El Salvador, often to harsh detention centers.
Last week, Ghana’s President John Mahama disclosed that 14 deportees from the region, mainly Nigerians and a Gambian, had arrived in the country.
Questions and opposition have arisen regarding the handling and fate of these individuals. Some deportees remain in detention in Ghana, prompting human rights concerns.
Lawyers argue that several deportees face risks of torture or persecution if forced to return to their countries of origin.
Minister Ablakwa emphasized that Ghana’s acceptance of deportees is based on humanitarian principles and pan-African solidarity, underscoring that Ghana is their home.
The deportees undergo vetting before arrival and may stay temporarily under regional visa-free travel rules or be repatriated to their nations.
The agreement comes amid heightened tensions, including U.S. tariffs on Ghanaian goods and visa restrictions.
Still, Ghana stands firm in its resolve to provide safe haven for fellow West Africans through this arrangement.
