Ghana has agreed to receive West African nationals deported from the United States, including Nigerians, under a new arrangement confirmed by President John Dramani Mahama on Wednesday.
Mahama said the first group of 14 deportees—comprising Nigerians, a Gambian, and other West Africans—had already landed in Accra, where Ghanaian authorities are facilitating their repatriation to their home countries.
“We were approached by the U.S. to accept third-party nationals who were being removed from the U.S., 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,” Mahama stated.
The decision aligns with Ghana’s open-border policy within the region, allowing citizens of West African countries to enter visa-free.
The development follows Washington’s intensified deportation measures under President Donald Trump, who has prioritized removals to “third countries” as part of his broader immigration crackdown.
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Previously, the U.S. deported migrants to Eswatini, South Sudan, and Rwanda, despite opposition from rights groups.
Nigeria, however, has resisted similar proposals. In July, Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar said Abuja would not accept deportees from outside Nigeria, citing concerns over national security and economic strain.
On July 9, Trump hosted five West African leaders—Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal—at the White House, where one of the main agenda points was persuading them to accept deportees from other nations.
Ghana’s decision marks a significant step in the U.S. government’s deportation strategy in West Africa, though it has stirred debate across the region.