The first set of Nigerians marked for deportation from the United States under President Donald Trump’s immigration clampdown has left America.
Ghana’s President, John Dramani Mahama, disclosed this to reporters in Accra late Wednesday, confirming that the deportees arrived in Ghana before being sent back to their home countries.
According to Mahama, a total of 14 deportees, including Nigerians and one Gambian, landed in Ghana as part of the controversial deportation exercise.
“A group of 14 deportees, including Nigerians and one Gambian, have already arrived in Ghana, and the government facilitated their return to their home countries,” the Ghanaian leader said.
He explained that the Nigerians were sent back by bus, while authorities were still assisting the Gambian national to return home.
Mahama confirmed that Accra had reached an understanding with Washington to accept West African nationals deported from the US, stressing that regional arrangements made such transfers easier.
“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. All our fellow West African nationals don’t need visas to come to our country,” he explained.
The Ghanaian leader, however, admitted that relations with the US were strained, pointing to rising tariffs on Ghanaian goods and visa restrictions imposed on its citizens.
Mahama described the situation as a “tightening” in bilateral relations, though he maintained that the ties “remained positive.”
Trump’s administration has been pressing African and Asian governments to accept deportees as part of its immigration crackdown.
Human rights groups have condemned the policy, accusing Washington of violating fundamental rights by sending migrants to “third countries” where many had never lived.
In recent months, the US deported five people to Eswatini, eight to South Sudan, and seven to Rwanda, after Kigali signed a deal to accept up to 250 migrants.
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