Ghana accepts First US-deported West Africans under bilateral pact
Mahama Confirms Arrival of 14 West African Deportees from United States
Elohim Nyame 
The government has confirmed the arrival of the first group of West African nationals deported from the United States under a bilateral arrangement between the two countries.
President John Dramani Mahama, addressing journalists at the Presidential Media Encounter at the Jubilee House on Wednesday, disclosed that 14 individuals were flown into Accra as part of the agreement.
According to him, most of the deportees were Nigerians, with one Gambian national included in the group.
“We were approached by the US to accept third-party nationals who were being removed from the US, and then 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. So if they decided to travel from the US to Accra, they don’t need a visa anyway. So if you are bringing our colleague West Africans back, that’s okay,” the President explained.
He noted that Ghana had facilitated the onward return of the Nigerian deportees by providing bus transport to their home country. The Gambian national’s case, however, required further coordination with the Gambian Embassy in Accra to arrange an air ticket for his repatriation.
President Mahama stressed that Ghana’s involvement in the process was consistent with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Protocol on Free Movement, which allows citizens of member states to enter and stay in another member country for up to 90 days without a visa.
“West Africa has the protocol of free movement, and so any West African is free to come to Ghana and be able to stay for 90 days. And so if they are bringing our colleagues back, we don’t have a problem accepting them,” he said.
The development highlights Ghana’s role in facilitating regional cooperation while maintaining its obligations under international agreements with the United States.
