Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has disclosed that 50 Ghanaians currently facing deportation from the United States are expected to be deported by mid-2025.

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Updating Parliament on the situation, he revealed that a total of 150 Ghanaians have been implicated in immigration-related offenses, including illegal entry, internet fraud, and rape.

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"None of the affected Ghanaians are in detention as we speak. Fifty out of the 150 individuals have received final deportation orders for court. Their deportation is expected to take place by mid-year. The remaining 100 cases are either under appeal or have been dismissed," he stated.

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He further noted that the Ghanaian government had successfully intervened in one case involving an individual in need of urgent medical care, leading to their release.

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Additionally, three Ghanaians have been processed and are set to return on commercial flights on March 19, March 28, and April 1, respectively.

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Ten more individuals have undergone verification interviews at Ghana’s Embassy to confirm their nationality and ensure they received due process. They are now waiting for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to finalize their travel arrangements before deportation is executed.

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Earlier reports suggested that about 156 Ghanaians were at risk of deportation due to heightened immigration enforcement. However, in a previous engagement with Parliament’s Appointments Committee, Mr. Ablakwa dismissed exaggerated figures, clarifying that the official number communicated from Washington, D.C., was 156, not 6,200 as had been speculated.

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“There have been reports suggesting that about 6,200 Ghanaians will be affected by the mass deportation from the United States. However, based on the official brief I have received from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the actual number currently communicated to us from Washington, D.C., stands at 156, not 6,200,” he clarified.

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The Foreign Minister assured Parliament that the government, through its consulate in the U.S., is closely monitoring the situation and will continue to offer necessary consular support to affected individuals.

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“We will not leave them to struggle on their own. The government of Ghana and its people care about their plight, and we are doing our best to extend consular assistance to them,” Mr. Ablakwa assured.

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Meanwhile, the U.S. continues its nationwide immigration enforcement operation, launched on January 26. The operation, spearheaded by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), has led to the arrest of nearly 1,000 individuals, with authorities prioritizing cases deemed threats to public safety and national security.

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The Ghanaian government remains in dialogue with U.S. officials to monitor developments and safeguard the rights of its citizens throughout the deportation process.

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