Keypoints:
- Second batch of deportees set to arrive
- Government cites humanitarian grounds, not US policy
- Opposition questions lack of parliamentary approval
GHANA is preparing to receive 40 more West Africans deported from the United States, the second group to arrive under an arrangement with President Donald Trump’s administration to curb illegal migration.
Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa disclosed on Wednesday that the arrivals are expected ‘in the next few days’ after a vetting process. Speaking on Channel One TV, he said, ‘We vet them before they come.’
Mahama confirms US request
President John Dramani Mahama announced last week that Ghana had agreed to take in an unspecified number of deportees after Washington requested assistance in housing ‘third-party nationals’.
The government has stressed that accepting the migrants does not signal approval of President Trump’s immigration policy. Officials insist Ghana is not receiving any financial or material concessions in return.
Parliament dispute
Opposition MPs have accused the Mahama administration of bypassing parliamentary approval for the arrangement. They argue the government should have sought ratification for such an agreement.
The foreign ministry, however, maintains that the deal operates under a Memorandum of Understanding with the US, which it says does not require parliamentary consent.
Humanitarian grounds cited
Ablakwa said the decision to welcome the deportees was rooted in compassion after witnessing the harsh treatment many face abroad.
‘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,’ he told the broadcaster.
He added that the move was ‘purely on a humanitarian basis’ and aimed at reinforcing Ghana’s image as a safe haven for Africans. ‘We did not take any financial benefits. We’re doing this because we want to continue to position Ghana as the Mecca for Africans,’ Ablakwa said.
The government has not indicated when the deportees will arrive, but officials say preparations are underway to support their reintegration once they reach Ghana.
