Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, has disclosed that Ghana is expecting 40 West African deportees from the US to arrive in the coming days.
It will be recalled that President John Mahama, speaking to the media some weeks ago, revealed that some 14 US deportees arrived in Ghana, with several of them being Nigerians and a Gambian.
He cited the regional bloc Ecowas’s free movement protocol that allows citizens of member states to enter other West African countries without a visa for up to 90 days.
John Mahama further revealed that Ghana had already facilitated the return of the Nigerians to their country, while the Gambian was still being assisted.
He stated, “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”.
“The government of Ghana took the principled and humanitarian decision to accept the limited number of West African nationals deported from the United States under exceptional circumstances, in line with Ghana’s long-standing Pan-African ideals and unwavering commitment to regional solidarity,” President Mahama stated.
He added, “Our decision is grounded purely on humanitarian principles and Pan-African solidarity to offer temporary refuge where needed, to prevent further human suffering, and to maintain our credibility as a responsible regional actor. Ghana’s decision must be understood as an act of Pan-African empathy. It is not transactional like Rwanda, Eswatini, Uganda, or South Sudan”.
Mahama, however, clarified that the arrangement should not be seen as an endorsement of President Donald Trump’s new U.S. immigration policies.
“Since the days of our forebears, Ghana has hosted freedom fighters, welcomed Africans in the diaspora, offered them safe haven, resources, citizenship, and even passports. That is why we are seen as the maker of Pan-Africanism. We shall not depart from that inspiring track record,” Mahama added.
Speaking on Channel One TV, Ablakwa revealed stated, “I can reveal to you that we’re expecting another 40 in the next few days. We vet them before they come”.
“We didn’t agree to this because we agree with President Trump’s immigration policies. We’re not doing the US a favour. We’re doing our fellow Africans a favour; we’re offering them refuge, hope, and we want them to come back home and be comfortable.
“We solidarised with them when we saw those images, the arrests, the violation of their rights, and their being detained against their will.
“It’s as if nobody wants to take them. It was purely on a humanitarian basis; we did not take any financial benefits. We’re doing this because we want to continue to position Ghana as the Mecca for Africans,” he said.
Also, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa had earlier revealed that the Cabinet had approved Ghana’s participation in a third-country deportation arrangement with the United States.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series on Monday, September 15, Mr. Ablakwa stated, “Let me emphasise that under this understanding with the United States, Ghana must first independently vet the background of those the U.S. intends to deport, to satisfy ourselves that they do not pose any threat to the security of our country and that they cannot harm our citizens”.
“The Mahama administration would never compromise the safety and well-being of Ghanaians”, he added.
He further clarified, “By established convention, MoUs are not sent to Parliament for ratification. I have inherited hundreds of MoUs from the previous administration, which were not sent to Parliament for ratification. May I assure the nation that if this initial understanding is elevated into a full-blown agreement, we shall not hesitate to comply with Article 75 of the 1992 Constitution by proceeding to Parliament for ratification”.
Meanwhile, the Minority in Parliament had demanded the suspension of what it described as an unconstitutional deal.