Ghana has confirmed the arrival of 14 West Africans deported from the United States under a controversial programme that has also sent migrants to Eswatini, Rwanda and South Sudan.
President John Mahama on Wednesday, September 10, said the deportees, who include Nigerian and Gambian nationals, were admitted under the West African protocol of free movement, with plans for them to return to their home countries.
He added that Ghana had agreed with Washington to accept such nationals since West Africans do not require a visa to enter the country. The move makes Ghana the first West African nation to officially strike such an arrangement with the U.S.
The initiative, driven by U.S. President Donald Trump in his second term, has drawn strong criticism from lawyers and rights groups, who question its legality and highlight the harsh conditions some deportees face. In July, five men deported to Eswatini were reportedly held in a maximum-security prison without charge or legal counsel. Critics argue that African countries approached for such deals often have weak human rights records and are vulnerable to U.S. pressure linked to trade, migration, and aid. Nigeria has publicly resisted such agreements, warning that African states are under significant pressure to cooperate with Washington’s deportation agenda.