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Ghana’s arrangement with the United States to accept deportees is purely humanitarian and comes with no financial payments to Accra, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has clarified.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series press briefing in Accra on Monday, September 15, 2025, Mr Ablakwa said the arrangement is covered by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), not a formal agreement, and therefore does not require parliamentary ratification.
“It was carefully examined by Cabinet and vetted by the Attorney-General before approval. As an MoU, it does not at this stage require ratification by Parliament,” he explained.
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The minister stressed that Ghana’s involvement is rooted in Pan-African solidarity rather than financial benefit.
“We are only helping our brothers and sisters,” he said.
“That is why we made it clear to the Americans that we will not accept even one dollar. We don’t want any money because it could create the wrong impression that we are motivated by financial considerations.”
He revealed that Washington had offered financial assistance to offset costs associated with hosting deportees temporarily, but Accra declined the offer to avoid any doubt about Ghana’s motives.
“This comes with financial burdens—accommodation, care, and transition—but we rejected all funds. We don’t want any impression that Ghana is trading humanity for money,” he added.
Mr Ablakwa further explained that the scope of the MoU was narrow and strictly limited to West Africans.
“For now, the strict understanding we have with the Americans is that we are only going to take West Africans. Every person is vetted, and those considered hardened criminals are excluded,” he said.
President John Dramani Mahama last week confirmed Ghana’s participation in the initiative, joining four other African nations in facilitating the return of deportees from the U.S.
He disclosed that 14 deportees—mainly Nigerians and one Gambian—had already arrived in Ghana before being transferred to their home countries.
The minister underscored that Ghana’s role should be viewed within the country’s long tradition of standing with fellow Africans.
“We are coming in purely on humanitarian grounds, expressing Pan-African solidarity, which Ghana is famed for. We should rather be seen as a country that wants to look out for its fellow Africans,” Mr Ablakwa stressed.
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