Ghana has officially begun accepting West African nationals deported from the United States under a new arrangement that allows their temporary entry before being sent to their respective home countries. The policy, confirmed by President John Dramani Mahama, marks a sharp contrast to Nigeria’s firm refusal to take in deportees from outside its borders.
According to Reuters, Mahama disclosed that the first batch of 14 deportees — made up of Nigerians, a Gambian, and other West Africans — arrived in Accra recently. Ghanaian authorities, he added, facilitated their return journey to their countries of origin.
“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 because all our fellow West Africans don’t need a visa to come to our country,” Mahama explained.
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He further justified the decision by stressing that West Africans “don’t need a visa anyway” to enter Ghana, citing the ECOWAS free movement protocol, which grants citizens of member states visa-free travel within the region.
The development comes against the backdrop of an intensified deportation campaign launched under former U.S. President Donald Trump, who adopted a hardline stance on immigration during his tenure. Trump’s administration actively pursued the use of “third countries” as temporary destinations for migrants, particularly from Africa, who were deemed removable from the United States.
Rights groups, however, have consistently expressed concern about the practice, warning that deportations to countries without direct links to the deportees could violate international protections and expose migrants to safety risks. In previous instances, Washington oversaw deportations to countries such as Eswatini, South Sudan and Rwanda, despite ongoing security challenges in those regions.
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Nigeria Stands Firm
While Ghana has opened its doors to such arrangements, Nigeria has maintained a strong stance against receiving third-country deportees. In July, Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar declared that the Federal Government would not accept deportees who are not Nigerian citizens, citing both national security and economic considerations.
“Our position is clear. Nigeria will not allow entry of deportees from outside the country, especially those who are not Nigerian nationals. We have to safeguard our sovereignty and prioritize the welfare of our citizens,” Tuggar said.
Nigeria’s refusal reflects broader concerns across Africa about becoming a dumping ground for deported migrants under Western immigration deals. Analysts say that hosting non-nationals deported from the U.S. could place economic and security strains on host countries, especially at a time when many are grappling with high unemployment, weak social services, and transnational crime.
Despite Nigeria’s resistance, the Trump administration doubled down on its lobbying efforts. On July 9, Trump hosted five West African leaders — from Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal — at the White House. According to Reuters, one of the key objectives of that meeting was to secure commitments from these countries to receive deportees, including those who were not their own nationals.
While it is unclear how many of these nations have since agreed to cooperate, Ghana’s decision positions it as one of the few West African countries willing to accommodate Washington’s request.
