Ghana has quietly shifted its stance on deportations, agreeing to facilitate the return of West African nationals from the United States after months of pressure and the imposition of punitive visa restrictions.

At a presidential media encounter on Wednesday, September 10, President John Mahama confirmed that the first batch of 14 deportees had arrived in Accra under a new bilateral arrangement.

Most were Nigerians, with one Gambian national also among the group.

While the President avoided framing the move as a concession, the timing — coming weeks after Washington imposed strict visa limits on Ghanaians — leaves little doubt that Accra bowed to U.S. pressure.

For months, the U.S. government had warned Ghana and other nations to comply with Section 241(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which obliges countries to accept their nationals ordered removed from American soil.

When Ghana hesitated, citing documentation and nationality verification issues, Washington responded with sweeping visa restrictions.

As of July 8, 2025, popular visa categories — including B1 (business), B2 (tourism), F (student), J (exchange visitor), and H (temporary worker) — were downgraded from multi-year, multiple-entry permits to single-entry visas valid for only three months.

The changes hit Ghana’s business community, students, and frequent travellers particularly hard.

Explaining the deal, President Mahama said Ghana agreed to act as a transit hub for deported West Africans, citing the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement, which allows citizens of member states to enter Ghana visa-free for up to 90 days.

“We were approached by the U.S. to accept third-party nationals who were being removed, and we agreed that West African nationals were acceptable, because all our fellow West Africans don’t need a visa to come to our country,” Mahama said.

The Nigerian deportees were transported by bus to their home country, while Ghanaian authorities worked with the Gambian Embassy in Accra to arrange a flight for the Gambian national.

The move aligns with Washington’s broader push, accelerated under President Donald Trump, to remove undocumented immigrants more swiftly and compel foreign governments to cooperate.

According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) data, more than 3,000 Ghanaians were on deportation lists as of January 2025.

Some West Africans had also entered the U.S. on Ghanaian passports, further complicating removals.

Critics argue that Ghana’s participation is less about ECOWAS solidarity and more about avoiding deeper U.S. sanctions.

The speed of the agreement, coming just weeks after the visa downgrade, underscores the leverage Washington wields.