Ghana Opens Doors to US-Deported West Africans Amid Trump’s Immigration Crackdown
Abuja, Nigeria — Thursday, 11 September 2025
Ghana has become the first West African nation to accept deported migrants under the Trump administration’s controversial immigration policy.
On September 10, 2025, President John Dramani Mahama confirmed that 14 individuals—including Nigerians and one Gambian—had arrived in Accra and were being assisted in returning to their home countries. Mahama emphasized that the decision aligns with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) free movement protocol, which permits visa-free travel among member states.
This move places Ghana among a growing list of African countries accepting deportees from the United States. Other nations that have agreed to take in deportees include Eswatini, South Sudan, and Rwanda. In July 2025, the U.S. deported five individuals to Eswatini, and in August, seven migrants were sent to Rwanda under a deal that could see up to 250 individuals relocated there.
The U.S. policy of deporting individuals to third countries has raised significant human rights concerns. Critics argue that sending migrants to countries where they have no familial or legal ties may violate international law and expose them to potential abuse. For instance, five men deported to Eswatini in July were reportedly held in a maximum-security prison for seven weeks without charge or legal representation.
President Mahama defended Ghana’s decision, stating that the country had agreed to accept West African nationals because they do not require visas to enter. He noted that Ghana had been approached by the U.S. to accept third-party nationals being removed from the U.S., and the agreement was made in line with regional protocols.
As Ghana navigates this new role, the international community continues to scrutinize the implications of such deportation agreements on migrant rights and regional cooperation.
