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Ghana Confirms First Arrivals of West Africans Deported by the U.S.

Accra describes ties with Washington as tightening over tariffs and visas after agreeing to take vetted West African nationals at U.S. request.

FILE -Ghana's President John Mahama addresses the high level meeting on rule of law in the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters, Sept. 24, 2012. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)
Ghana's President John Dramani Mahama inaugurates the GoldBod task force to fight gold smuggling and secure Ghana's gold value chain in Accra, Ghana. July 8, 2025. REUTERS/Francis Kokoroko/File Photo
Ghana's President John Mahama said the deal came as relations were 'tightening' between the west African country and the United States

Overview

  • President John Mahama said Ghana agreed to receive West African nationals following a U.S. approach, citing regional visa‑free travel rules.
  • An initial group of 14 people arrived, including several Nigerians who later returned home and one person from The Gambia.
  • Mahama said relations with the United States are "tightening" as Washington raises tariffs on Ghanaian goods and imposes visa restrictions.
  • The transfers are part of President Donald Trump's third‑country deportation policy that has also sent people to Panama and El Salvador.
  • Nigeria has pushed back on taking third‑party deportees, with Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar saying it would be difficult to accept Venezuelan prisoners.