The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has disclosed that 94 Ghanaians were deported from the United States in 2024 as part of the US government’s intensified immigration crackdown.
Addressing Parliament on Thursday, March 13, 2025, Mr Ablakwa stated that no Ghanaian had been deported from the US so far this year. He referenced data from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which recorded 37,660 deportations in January 2025, with no Ghanaians included.
He further revealed that two Ghanaians had recently been deported to Costa Rica, with Ghana’s Washington Mission working with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to facilitate their transfer back to Ghana.
150 Ghanaians await deportation
Providing additional details, Mr Ablakwa informed Parliament that 150 Ghanaians are currently being held in various US detention centres for offences such as rape, internet fraud, and illegal entry.
“Fifty out of the 150 individuals have received final deportation orders from the court, with their deportation expected by mid-year. The remaining 100 cases are either under appeal or have been dismissed,” he noted.
He added that diplomatic interventions had secured the release of one Ghanaian on medical grounds, while three others are scheduled to depart the US on commercial flights on March 19, March 28, and April 1, 2025.
Additionally, ten Ghanaians have been interviewed by the Ghanaian Embassy to verify their nationality and ensure they have received a fair hearing. They are now awaiting the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to purchase their flight tickets before their travel documents can be issued.
Unaccompanied Ghanaian migrant children at risk
The Minister also revealed that a recent directive from US ICE has placed over 600,000 unaccompanied migrant children under review for possible deportation.
“There are four Ghanaian children known to the Ghana Mission who fall under this category,” he disclosed, adding that these minors could face deportation if they fail to prove familial connections or legal guardianship.
Expansion of US deportation efforts
Mr Ablakwa informed Parliament that in an effort to streamline deportation operations, former US President Donald Trump had signed a memorandum on January 29, 2025, directing DHS to expand the migrant operations centre at Guantanamo Bay.
“This expansion will facilitate the temporary housing of up to 30,000 undocumented immigrants. Following this directive, 178 Venezuelan migrants were transferred to the facility and subsequently deported to Honduras, from where they were repatriated to Venezuela. As of now, no Ghanaian nationals are reportedly detained at this facility,” he said.
He further explained that the US government, in partnership with Panama and Costa Rica, had established agreements to temporarily detain deportees in these countries before their repatriation.
Under these arrangements, migrants deported from the US are held in detention camps in Panama or Costa Rica as part of the deportation process. Reports from detainees in Panama have raised concerns over harsh living conditions, limited freedoms, and restricted access to legal assistance.
“The involvement of third-party countries in the deportation process reflects a broader US strategy to manage its deportation efforts and control migration flows,” he noted.
Government’s response and reintegration efforts
To address the potential deportation of more Ghanaian nationals, Mr Ablakwa announced that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had begun engaging stakeholders to develop reintegration plans.
“A key step in this process was the Stakeholders Meeting held on February 17, 2025,” he said, explaining that the meeting aimed to assess vulnerabilities within the Ghanaian migrant community and establish necessary support mechanisms.
One of the key outcomes, he stated, was the identification of resources needed to assist deported nationals, including transportation to their final destinations and access to reintegration programs.
Mr Ablakwa assured Parliament that the Ministry would continue to work closely with local organisations and international partners to ensure the well-being of deported Ghanaians upon their return.
