Ghana has agreed to accept deportees from the US, joining a list of African nations cooperating with Washington’s strategy of relocating undocumented migrants.
The arrangement, announced in Accra, reflects a broader policy by American President Donald Trump’s administration to send immigrants not just to their home countries, but also to third-party destinations across Africa.
A first group of 14 deportees, none of them Ghanaian, have already arrived in Ghana. They include Nigerians and a Gambian national.
The decision highlights the shifting balance between migration management, trade relations, and regional diplomacy.
Ghana’s deal with the US covers West African nationals
President John Mahama confirmed that Ghana was approached by the US to host individuals expelled from American territory. He clarified that the country agreed only to take nationals from within the West African region.
This condition was set before the arrival of the first group, which included Nigerians and a Gambian national.
The US remains Ghana’s sixth-largest trading partner, but relations have been under strain since the Trump administration imposed a 15% tariff on Ghanaian goods.
Ghana was also placed on a list of 36 countries at risk of a visa ban. The deportee agreement may help improve relations between Accra and Washington at a time when Ghana seeks to protect its trade ties.
Wider African participation in US deportation agreements
The US has been stepping up deportations since Trump returned to office in January. Instead of limiting expulsions to individuals’ countries of origin, Washington has negotiated with African governments willing to receive non-nationals.
Other countries that have signed similar arrangements include Rwanda, Eswatini, and South Sudan.
Uganda has also reached a deal, according to a report by Al-Jazeera last month.
This cooperation underscores a broader American effort to manage undocumented migration by shifting responsibility beyond its own borders.
Controversy over the policy’s impact
The US government maintains that deportees include individuals classified as dangerous criminals.
However, civil rights groups argue that many are law-abiding noncitizens who face removal to unfamiliar destinations where they may have no ties or resources.
The deportations are part of Trump’s broader crackdown on undocumented migration, a central policy since his return to the White House.
The practice of sending individuals to third-party countries is seen as particularly contentious, with critics warning it could leave many without support structures in their new host nations.
Ghana’s decision reflects complex diplomacy
For Ghana, the arrangement is as much about diplomacy as it is about migration. With its economic links to the US under pressure due to tariffs and potential visa restrictions, agreeing to receive deportees from the West African region may strengthen bilateral ties.
At the same time, it places Ghana alongside other African states aligning with the US in managing undocumented migration.
The situation shows how migration control has become part of international negotiations, where trade, foreign policy, and regional cooperation intersect.
Ghana’s acceptance of non-nationals marks a notable step in this evolving strategy, tying local migration policies to global pressures.
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