Ghana Deports 6 West Africans to Togo After Arriving from United States
- Ghana has deported six West Africans to Togo after their controversial arrival from the United States under President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown
- Lawyers said the deportations occurred despite an active court case challenging their detention and onward removal
- The move has sparked legal and political backlash amid growing secrecy surrounding third-country deportation deals
Ghana has deported at least six West African nationals to neighbouring Togo after they were expelled to Accra by the United States as part of President Donald Trump’s intensified immigration crackdown, lawyers confirmed on Tuesday, 23 September, 2025.
A group of eleven deportees had filed a lawsuit against the Ghanaian government in an attempt to halt their onward deportation.
Source: Getty Images
However, lawyer Oliver Barker-Vormawor told the Human Rights Division of Ghana’s High Court that the individuals had already been “deported” over the weekend, while legal proceedings were still underway.
According to Barker-Vormawor, one of the deportees was released to a relative in Ghana, while six were confirmed to have been sent to Togo. The remaining individuals were likely “sent to Togo as well. But we haven’t been able to establish contact” with them, he told AFP.
Secrecy surrounds deportees’ fate
The circumstances surrounding the deportees’ arrival in Ghana and their subsequent detention have remained opaque. Human rights advocates, legal representatives and journalists have struggled to trace the movements of those affected by the Trump administration’s deportation policies, which have seen asylum seekers sent to third countries without clear legal recourse.
The group, comprising nationals from Nigeria, Togo, Mali, Liberia and Gambia, had arrived in Ghana in early September, although the news only surfaced publicly about a week later. Lawyers argued that their clients had been held without trial or formal charges since arrival, and sought their release to prevent further deportation.
“All of these people were seeking asylum in the US, and they’ve made clear that they were facing persecution — whether in connection with religious reasons, political, and even on the basis of their sexual orientation,” Barker-Vormawor said last week.
Ghana-US deportation deal under scrutiny
The deportations followed a controversial agreement between Ghana and the United States, struck amid rising diplomatic tensions. Ghana has recently faced increased tariffs and visa restrictions from Washington, prompting speculation about the nature of the bilateral arrangement.
President John Mahama had earlier announced the arrival of 14 deportees, stating they would be permitted to remain temporarily under regional visa-free travel protocols or return to their countries of origin. However, confusion mounted after officials initially claimed all 14 had returned home — a claim later contradicted by Barker-Vormawor, who said only three had done so, leaving eleven in detention.
The lawsuit identified the detainees as four Nigerians, three Togolese, two Malians, one Liberian and one Gambian.
Political opposition groups in Ghana criticised the government for failing to inform parliament about the deportation deal, raising concerns over transparency and national sovereignty.
Source: Getty Images
More deportees expected in Ghana
Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has stated that 40 additional deportees are expected to arrive in the coming days. He emphasised that Ghana’s decision to accept the individuals was rooted in humanitarian considerations and did not constitute an “endorsement” of US immigration policy.
Barker-Vormawor confirmed that more deportees were continuing to arrive in Ghana as of last week, underscoring the urgency of legal and human rights oversight in the face of expanding international deportation practices.
Ghana confirms 14 people deported from US
Legit.ng earlier reported that a group of 14 West Africans deported from the United States to Ghana have reportedly been sent to their respective home countries, according to a Ghanaian government spokesman.
The group, comprising 13 Nigerians and one Gambian, were said to have departed Ghana for Nigeria and Gambia.
Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, addressed the issue at a press briefing in Accra on Monday, firmly rejecting claims that the country’s decision to accept the deportees amounted to an endorsement of US President Donald Trump’s migration policies. Ablakwa stated that Ghana’s actions were “purely on humanitarian grounds.”
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Source: Legit.ng
