Ghana has begun accepting West African nationals deported from the United States, including Nigerians, President John Dramani Mahama said on Wednesday.

According to Reuters, Mahama disclosed that a first batch of 14 deportees, made up of Nigerians, a Gambian and others, had already arrived in Accra, with the Ghanaian authorities facilitating their return to their respective countries.

“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 because all our fellow West Africans don’t need a visa to come to our country,” he said.

He justified the decision by saying West Africans “don’t need a visa anyway” to come to Ghana.

The arrangement comes amid Washington’s intensified deportation drive under President Donald Trump, who has pushed for removals to “third countries” as part of his hardline immigration policy.

Trump has previously overseen deportations of migrants to Eswatini, South Sudan and Rwanda despite safety concerns raised by rights groups.

Nigeria, however, has rejected similar overtures from Washington.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, said in July that the Federal Government would not accept deportees from outside Nigeria, citing national security and economic concerns.

Trump hosted five West African leaders at the White House on July 9, where, according to Reuters, one of the key objectives was to persuade them to receive deportees from other countries.

They include the leaders of Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania and Senegal.

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The Federal Government of Nigeria has expressed strong concern over reports that an Israeli airstrike in Doha, Qatar, targeted senior members of Hamas leadership earlier this week.

In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, the government emphasized the need to respect national sovereignty and uphold international law, warning that the attack could further destabilize the Middle East.

“This incident raises profound questions about regional stability and the future of diplomatic efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” the statement read.
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Nigeria commended Qatar’s long-standing role as a mediator in peace negotiations and urged all parties to avoid escalation.

“We call for maximum restraint and a renewed commitment to peaceful dialogue. Violence only deepens mistrust and prolongs suffering,” the government said.

It also extended condolences to victims of the attack and reaffirmed its commitment to international efforts aimed at de-escalation and lasting peace. Abuja pledged to continue working with the United Nations and other multilateral institutions to advance stability and uphold the rule of law in the region.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has remained tense since October 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise assault on southern Israel, killing more than 1,200 people and seizing over 200 hostages. Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has since caused widespread destruction and fueled a humanitarian crisis.
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According to Gaza’s health ministry, more than 62,000 people have been killed in nearly two years of fighting. Qatar has played a central role in mediation, hosting Hamas’s political leadership in Doha and serving as a key channel for negotiations.

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The Qatari Ministry of Interior has dismissed reports claiming that it imposed new visa restrictions on Nigerian passport holders.

A ministry official told the BBC Pidgin on Wednesday that there are no restrictions on Nigerians seeking to visit Qatar.

Social media reports had alleged that Qatari authorities introduced a travel ban preventing male applicants from entering the country unless they were travelling with their families.

The reports also claimed that only women or families could apply for visas, with additional requirements of a five-star hotel booking and a return flight ticket before applying for a travel or transit visa.

According to the viral reports, the notification cited frequent cases of overstays by Nigerian travellers as the reason.

However, according to the BBC, Hayya, Qatar’s digital platform for e-visa services, clarified that the visa application process remains unchanged.

“There has been no suspension or changes to the current procedures. If any updates are to be made, they will be announced on our official platforms,” it stated.