Nigeria: Ghana receives Nigerians, other West Africans deported from US
By Zuleihat Owuiye, Mamos Nigeria
Ghana’s President, John Mahama, has confirmed that the country is receiving deported nationals from the United States, including Nigerians and other West Africans.
Speaking on Wednesday, Mahama explained that the arrangement was made in consultation with Washington and aligned with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) protocol on free movement.
According to him, the first batch of 14 deportees — made up of Nigerians, a Gambian, and other West Africans — has already arrived in Accra. The Ghanaian government organized buses to facilitate the return of the Nigerians to their home country, while support was being provided for the Gambian citizen to return home safely.
“We were approached by the US to accept third-party nationals who were being removed,” Mahama stated. “We agreed that West African nationals could be received here, since citizens of ECOWAS do not require visas to enter Ghana.”
The president acknowledged that Ghana’s relations with the US have been tested in recent years, particularly due to trade tariffs and visa restrictions. However, he stressed that the overall partnership between both countries remains “still positive.”
This move comes amid the US government’s intensified deportation policies under President Donald Trump, who has pushed for migrants to be resettled in “third countries” rather than returned directly to their nations of origin. In recent months, the US has deported seven people to Rwanda, five to Eswatini, and eight to South Sudan.
The policy has drawn criticism from human rights groups, who argue that forcing individuals into countries where they have no ties puts them at risk and undermines their fundamental rights.
While Ghana has agreed to cooperate, not all African countries have taken the same stance. Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, announced in July that Nigeria would not accept third-country deportees, citing concerns over security and economic impact.
Ghana’s decision highlights the broader divisions within Africa on how to respond to Washington’s shifting immigration strategies.
