by Nigerian News24 Correspondents
Ghana has begun receiving West African nationals deported from the United States, including Nigerians, President John Dramani Mahama announced on Wednesday.
Speaking to Reuters, Mahama confirmed that the first group of 14 deportees—comprising Nigerians, a Gambian, and others—had already arrived in Accra, with Ghanaian authorities coordinating their onward return to their respective home countries.
“We were approached by the U.S. to accept third-party nationals being removed, and we agreed, since all our fellow West Africans do not require visas to enter Ghana,” Mahama explained.
The development comes amid Washington’s intensified deportation campaign under President Donald Trump, who has promoted transfers to “third countries” as part of his stricter immigration agenda. In recent years, deportees have also been sent to Eswatini, South Sudan, and Rwanda, sparking criticism from rights groups over safety concerns.
Nigeria, however, has rejected similar requests. In July, Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar stated that Abuja would not accept non-Nigerian deportees, citing security and economic implications.
On July 9, Trump hosted five West African leaders at the White House—including those of Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal—where one of the main discussions centered on persuading them to take in deportees from other countries.