Diplomacy/Ghana agrees to accept U.S. deportees under bilateral agreement
Ghana has agreed to accept undocumented migrants deported from the United States under a new bilateral arrangement. President John Mahama confirmed that 14 individuals, including nationals from Nigeria and The Gambia, have already been received.
The decision aligns with the ECOWAS free movement protocol, which permits visa-free travel and residency among West African member states.
Ghana has facilitated the return of Nigerian deportees by road and is assisting a Gambian national in returning home.
The U.S. approached Ghana as part of its expanded effort to relocate deportees, including third-country nationals, to deter illegal immigration. This policy has previously seen migrants sent to Rwanda, Eswatini, and South Sudan.
While U.S.-Ghana relations have faced recent strain due to increased tariffs and visa restrictions, Mahama described the overall partnership as remaining positive.
The move has drawn criticism from rights groups, who argue that deporting individuals to countries without strong ties violates their basic rights.
Some nations, including Nigeria, have resisted U.S. pressure to accept third-country deportees. Ghana’s cooperation marks a significant, though controversial, step in U.S. migration enforcement strategy.
