Ghana Opens Doors to US Deportees… Nigerians Inclusive

Ghana has agreed to accept West African Nationals deported from the United States, including Nigerians, President John Dramani Mahama announced on Wednesday, September 10.

A batch of 14 deportees, comprising Nigerians, a Gambian, and others, has already arrived in Accra, with Ghanaian authorities facilitating their onward return to their respective home Countries.

Mahama justified the decision by citing Ghana’s visa-free policy for West African citizens, which allows for free movement within the region under the ECOWAS protocol.

“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,” Mahama explained.

The agreement comes amid the US’s intensified deportation drive under President Donald Trump, who has promoted removals to “third countries” as part of his hardline immigration policy.

Trump has previously overseen deportations to countries such as Eswatini, South Sudan, and Rwanda, despite safety concerns raised by rights groups.

In contrast, Nigeria has rejected similar requests from Washington. Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar stated in July that the Federal Government would not accept deportees from outside Nigeria, citing National security and economic concerns.

The decision has sparked debate, with some raising concerns about the safety and well-being of deportees.

However, Mahama’s Administration believes that the decision aligns with Ghana’s regional obligations and visa-free policy for West African citizens.