A Ghanaian man has tackled President John Dramani Mahama after he agreed to accept people deported from the US as part of President Donald Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration.
President John Mahama, speaking to the media some weeks ago, revealed that some 14 US deportees arrived in Ghana, with several of them being Nigerians and a Gambian.
He cited the regional bloc Ecowas’s free movement protocol that allows citizens of member states to enter other West African countries without a visa for up to 90 days.
John Mahama further revealed that Ghana had already facilitated the return of the Nigerians to their country, while the Gambian was still being assisted to get back home.
He stated, “We were approached by the US to accept third-party nationals who were being removed from the US. And we agreed with them that West African nationals were acceptable”.
“All our fellow West African nationals don’t need visas to come to our country”, John Mahama added.
However, reacting to the news, the young man noted that 48,000 of President Mahama’s tribesmen fled Ghana seeking refuge, but he is rather concerned about bringing in deportees.
Speaking on Property TV, the man stated, “When I heard this, I was not surprised, because in 2015, President Mahama had a relationship with deportees. We were in this country when two people from Guantanamo Bay were sneaked into the country, and we had to speak against it, with the case ending up in court.
We are in our own country, we cannot even solve our own problems, why do you go and take deportees who are not even Ghanaians, Nigerians and Gambians? Let’s put the laws aside”.
He added, “As president, in his own backyard, about 48,000 of his people have been displaced to another country in Cote d’Ivoire and Burkina, but you are not speaking about that. A different country is even looking after them, but some say he is deporting people you have gone for them”.
He further cited that the laws of Ghana are clear that President Mahama needs parliament approval before accepting deportees.
“Coming to laws, our constituency is very clear, such things should pass through parliament for ratification and transparency.
President Mahama did the same in 2016, and parliament spoke about it, so why will you repeat the same again? Your own people, just in your country, have turned refugees in another country, but you want to take another refugee from another country into your country when they are not even Ghanaians”, the young man added.
It will be recalled that Mubarak Mohammed Muntaka, the Minister for Interior, revealed that 13,253 Ghanaians have crossed into neighbouring Côte d’Ivoire following clashes over land at Gbiniyiri in the Savannah Region.
Speaking in a radio interview with Joy FM, he stated, “The exact number confirmed by the authorities in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire is 13,253, who have been displaced, and they are there”.
However, NADMO had earlier claimed that they estimated that more than 48,000 people, mainly women and children, were affected.
Mubarak Mohammed Muntaka added, “This morning, the delegation of the Gonjaland leadership with the peace council [is meeting] the Yagbonwura. And I’m very optimistic with the way we are working. Hopefully by tomorrow or at least by Monday, we are setting up a committee to investigate all this and then come out with a report on how best we can avoid this from recurring”.
“Many of them left their farms to the areas where they find themselves now. Their animals, their food, their farms and all those are left unattended. And if we don’t resolve this quickly, we are going to lead to a lot of food insecurity in that area,” he cautioned.
However, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has revealed that the Cabinet approved Ghana’s participation in a third-country deportation arrangement with the United States.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series on Monday, September 15, Mr. Ablakwa stated, “Let me emphasise that under this understanding with the United States, Ghana must first independently vet the background of those the U.S. intends to deport, to satisfy ourselves that they do not pose any threat to the security of our country and that they cannot harm our citizens”.
“The Mahama administration would never compromise the safety and well-being of Ghanaians”, he added.
He further clarified, “By established convention, MoUs are not sent to Parliament for ratification. I have inherited hundreds of MoUs from the previous administration, which were not sent to Parliament for ratification. May I assure the nation that if this initial understanding is elevated into a full-blown agreement, we shall not hesitate to comply with Article 75 of the 1992 Constitution by proceeding to Parliament for ratification”.
Additionally, Ablakwa has revealed that an additional 40 West African deportees from the United States will be arriving in Ghana in the coming days.
Speaking on Channel One TV, he stated, “I can reveal to you that we’re expecting another 40 in the next few days. We vet them before they come”.
“We didn’t agree to this because we agree with President Trump’s immigration policies. We’re not doing the US a favour. We’re doing our fellow Africans a favour; we’re offering them refuge, hope, and we want them to come back home and be comfortable.
“We solidarised with them when we saw those images, the arrests, the violation of their rights, and their being detained against their will.
“It’s as if nobody wants to take them. It was purely on a humanitarian basis; we did not take any financial benefits. We’re doing this because we want to continue to position Ghana as the Mecca for Africans,” he said.
Watch the video below:
Mahama is ready to accept deportees, yet under his watch, his own people fled and became refugees elsewhere. Leadership must first protect its citizens! pic.twitter.com/dJwmgOhV3q
— ENOCH AKEY (@Yaw_Akey) September 17, 2025