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94 Ghanaians Deported from US in 2024 – Shocking Details

94 Ghanaians Deported from the US in 2024: Foreign Minister Ablakwa Reveals Shocking Details

According to Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Ghana’s minister of foreign affairs, 94 Ghanaians were deported from the US in 2024 as a result of stricter immigration laws. He discussed ongoing deportation cases, detainees awaiting repatriation, and the government’s reintegration efforts during his March 13, 2025, speech in Parliament.

No Ghanaian Deported in 2025 So Far

Mr. Ablakwa explained that there haven’t been any documented deportations of Ghanaians in 2025, according to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He referenced ICE data showing that no Ghanaian nationals were among the 37,660 deportations recorded in January 2025. However, Ghana’s foreign office worked with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to enable the repatriation of two Ghanaian citizens who were recently deported to Costa Rica.

150 Ghanaians in US Detention Awaiting Deportation

According to the Foreign Minister, 150 Ghanaians are incarcerated in US facilities at the moment for crimes like rape, computer fraud, and illegal entrance. Fifty of these have received final deportation orders and are anticipated to return by the middle of the year. The remaining 100 people have had their deportation orders revoked or are contesting their cases. He added that one Ghanaian detainee had been released due to medical reasons as a result of diplomatic efforts, and that three more were scheduled to board commercial planes from the United States between March 19 and April 1, 2025. Ten people have also been interviewed at the Ghanaian Embassy to verify their nationality and are awaiting approval from US officials to be deported.

Concerns Over Unaccompanied Ghanaian Minors

More than 600,000 unaccompanied migrant children are being considered for possible deportation in response to a recent ICE decision. At least four Ghanaian juveniles fit this description, Mr. Ablakwa noted, underscoring the necessity of legal counsel to keep them from being deported..

Expansion of US Deportation Efforts

On January 29, 2025, former US President Donald Trump signed a directive extending the Guantanamo Bay migrant operations facility to house up to 30,000 unauthorized immigrants, Mr. Ablakwa told Parliament. According to reports, this facility does not currently host any Ghanaian nationals. The United States has also teamed together with Panama and Costa Rica to temporarily hold deportees pending their return home. Concerns over cruel conditions, limited liberties, and restricted legal access have been brought up by reports from Ghanaian detainees in Panama. “These arrangements reflect the broader US strategy to control migration flows,” Mr. Ablakwa said.

Government Initiatives for Deportee Reintegration

Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Ministry has started implementing reintegration plans in an effort to lessen the effects of the rise in deportations. The Ghanaian migrant community’s problems were evaluated at a stakeholder meeting on February 17, 2025, and remedies for returning deportees were suggested. Mr. Ablakwa gave Parliament his word that the government is dedicated to helping Ghanaians who have been returned, working with both domestic and foreign groups. To assist deportees in starting over after their return, measures include developing reintegration programs and offering transportation support. The Ghanaian government is attentive in resolving the difficulties faced by deported individuals and ensuring their seamless reintegration into society, even while the United States continues its rigorous immigration enforcement.

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