The minister said 150 Ghanaians have so far been affected by the recent US immigration policies
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has disclosed that two Ghanaian citizens have elected to be deported from the US to either one of two Central American countries instead of being returned to their country of origin.
The minister made this disclosure during a briefing of Parliament on Thursday, March 13, 2025, regarding some Ghanaians affected by the recent immigration policies of the US government.
However, the minister clarified that the two individuals, contrary to reports, are being integrated into Costa Rican or Panamanian communities and are not being held in detention camps.
He further affirmed that a total of 150 Ghanaians, including two children, as confirmed by US authorities, are the ones who have so far been affected by the recent immigration deportation policies.
This, he said, is contrary to data gleaned from the website of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which has listed over 3,000 Ghanaians for deportation.
According to the minister, reports available to him indicate that a good number of the people listed on the ICE website have successfully appealed their cases and are, therefore, no longer subject to deportation.
On concerns about the criminal records of the 150 Ghanaians to be deported by the US government, the minister assured the House that the individuals, based on assessment, do not pose any threats to the country.
“These are hardworking, decent people,” he told Parliament.
He also indicated that the cost of deportation for the affected individuals is being taken care of by the US government, while assuring the House that his ministry remains committed to protecting the dignity of the affected individuals and ensuring their smooth reintegration into Ghanaian communities.
GA/AE
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