Ghana has agreed to receive West African nationals deported from the United States as part of President Donald Trump’s escalating immigration crackdown. Under a new bilateral arrangement, deportees from countries such as Nigeria and The Gambia will be transferred to Ghana before returning to their respective homelands.
Bilateral Agreement with Washington
President John Mahama announced that Ghana had formally agreed to accept third-country nationals from the United States who are citizens of West African states. He said the arrangement would allow Ghana to serve as a temporary destination for deportees before they are repatriated to their home countries.
Mahama confirmed that 14 individuals had already arrived under the program, including several Nigerians and one Gambian. He explained that Ghana facilitated the Nigerians’ return home by bus. At the same time, the Gambian deportee remained in Ghana pending arrangements for onward travel.
Role of ECOWAS Free Movement Protocol
The president mentioned the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) free movement protocol. This protocol enables citizens of member nations to travel and reside in other member states for up to 90 days without requiring visas. This provides Ghana with a legal basis for accepting deportees.
Mahama emphasized that Ghana would only accept nationals from within the ECOWAS bloc and not from other regions. “All our fellow West African nationals don’t need visas to come to our country,” he noted, underscoring the regional cooperation underpinning the arrangement.
Recent Deportations to Africa
The United States recently approached several African nations to accept deportees as part of its broader strategy to deter illegal immigration. Last month, seven migrants were deported to Rwanda. Earlier deportations included five to Eswatini and eight to South Sudan.
Outside of Africa, the Trump administration has also deported individuals to countries like Jamaica, Vietnam, and Laos. Rights groups have criticized this practice. They argue that the re-deportation of migrants to new or third-country locations threatens to violate international standards and human rights safeguards.
Ghana Balances Cooperation and Strain
President Mahama described Ghana’s cooperation as part of its ongoing relationship with Washington. He did, nonetheless, acknowledge tensions within the bilateral relationship. He referred to recent U.S. tariffs on exports of Ghanaian products and restrictions on visas to Ghanaian citizens as specific points of concern.
Despite these concerns, Mahama reported the relationship as generally good. He framed Ghana’s acceptance of deportees as both a humanitarian gesture and a step to maintain dialogue with the United States, even as some African governments push back against similar requests.
Nigeria Pushes Back on U.S. Policy
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, had previously rejected U.S. requests to accept third-country deportees, citing domestic pressures. Nigerian officials have said the government already faces significant socioeconomic challenges and cannot take responsibility for migrants with no legal or cultural ties to Nigeria.
The disparity highlights divergent responses across Africa to the deportation proposal of the Trump administration. While there has been limited cooperation from some nations, others are strongly opposed to it. This calls into doubt the long-term success of American initiatives to resettle migrants abroad.
A Look Ahead
As the Trump administration seeks to expand its deportation network, Ghana’s cooperation may set a precedent for other West African states. The arrangement shows how U.S. immigration enforcement now extends beyond its borders and reshapes relationships with partners in Africa.
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