Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has firmly denied reports suggesting that Ghana has agreed to take in deportees from the United States as part of a visa deal.
In a statement shared on X, the Minister described such claims as “conspiracy theories,” urging the public to disregard them. He emphasized that no agreement has been reached for Ghana to receive criminals or mass deportations from the U.S.
“Ghana will not be a dumping ground for U.S. removals. Ghana is not accepting criminals from the U.S.,” he stressed.
Mr. Ablakwa explained that discussions with Washington only involve a very limited number of pre-vetted West African nationals without criminal backgrounds, in line with existing ECOWAS protocols that already allow visa-free entry for citizens of the sub-region.
He further assured Ghanaians that the government would never compromise national security or stability in its negotiations with the U.S.
Beyond migration, the Minister revealed that talks also cover critical trade and economic issues.
These include Ghana’s push for the removal of a 15% tariff imposed by the U.S., negotiations for a special bilateral trade deal, and discussions on the future of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which he said is vital for Ghana’s garment industry.
“Claims that our ongoing negotiations with the US focuses solely on receiving US removals are false. The negotiations I am leading on President Mahama’s instruction includes a strong case for a reassessment of the 15% tariff imposed on Ghana, additionally we are negotiating a special Ghana-US trade deal, engaging on specific requests from US companies and holding fruitful talks on the future of AGOA which is of immense importance to Ghanaian garment companies.”
Mr. Ablakwa reiterated that the Mahama administration remains committed to safeguarding the country’s strategic interests while pursuing opportunities that benefit the wider population.
