Africa-Press. Ghana has received a new batch of migrants arriving from West African countries after being deported from the United States, as part of ongoing arrangements between Accra and Washington regarding the reception of certain migrants classified by U.S. authorities as undesirable individuals.
The migrants arrived in the Ghanaian capital, Accra, on Thursday, May 28, although the exact number of individuals deported remains unknown at this time.
This new batch follows Ghana’s reception of approximately 42 African migrants deported from the United States last year under a migration agreement between the two countries.
U.S. attorney Meredith Yoon, representing one of the deportees, stated that her client had legal status known as “temporary protected status,” a measure allowing holders to live and work in the United States and intended to provide protection from deportation. She explained that U.S. authorities nonetheless deported him to Ghana, noting that he could be transferred back to his home country of Guinea soon.
She added that agreements signed between the United States and some “third countries” like Ghana have, in some cases, allowed U.S. immigration authorities to carry out deportations through intermediary countries, which has drawn criticism from organizations and attorneys specializing in immigration issues.
Last year, Ghana deported a Gambian citizen known for his sexual orientation, who is currently living in hiding due to the criminalization of such relationships in Gambia. Additionally, other migrants deported from the United States were sent to Togo, where some are still residing illegally without official residency permits.
