The United States government has deported Nigerians and other nationals of West African countries to Ghana in the first major deportation targeting nationals of the Sahel nations.
Ghanaian President John Mahama confirmed the development on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, during a press conference. He disclosed that his country has received no fewer than 14 deportees, including Nigerians, a Gambian, and other West Africans.
According to Mahama, the move followed an agreement with Washington and was consistent with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) protocol on free movement.
“A group of 14 deportees, including Nigerians and one Gambian, have already arrived in Ghana, and the government facilitated their return to their home countries,” the Ghanaian leader said.
Nigerians heading home
He said the Ghanaian government had made arrangements to transport the Nigerians back to their country by bus, while the Gambian was still being assisted to return home.
“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.
“All our fellow West African nationals don’t need visas to come to our country,” Mahama said.
Mahama described the relationship between Accra and Washington as a “tightening situation,” citing the hiked U.S. tariffs on Ghanaian goods and visa restrictions on its nationals, even though he maintained an optimistic view about the situation.