President John Dramani Mahama has assured Ghanaians that the country’s agreement with the US to accept deportees of West African nationality will not threaten Ghana’s security and sovereignty.
Ghana has already received two batches of deportees of West African origin from the United States after an agreement with the US government.
Addressing Ghana’s envoys at the Jubilee House on October 1, 2025 before their departure to various countries, the President allayed fears that the deportation agreement with the US could affect the stability of the nation.
“I wish to assure our countrymen and women that our understanding with the US does not undermine our sovereignty, security or stability. Ghana will not, and I repeat, will not become a dumping ground for deportees or will we accept deportees with criminal background,” the President noted.
The President further urged Ghanaians who visit the US to return home when their visas expire. The United States recently imposed visa restriction on Ghana and other countries.
According to the President, the recent imposition of visa restrictions by the Donald Trump administration was due to many Ghanaians overstaying in the US.
But government managed to get the restriction reversed after a meeting with US authorities.
President John Mahama explained that the visa ban reversal by the United States Government was in the best interest of Ghana and has no financial considerations to it.
“Many of you are aware that Ghana became the only country subject to U.S. visa restrictions to secure a complete reversal from the Trump administration. Let me state clearly that this outcome was negotiated in Ghana’s best interest,” he said on October 1.
“One of the key points in our negotiation with the U.S. authorities was our agreement to address the issue of overstayers who travel on student visas and others who travel as part of official government delegations.
“I mean, these are people who go and instead of coming back, they decide to stay. And so, they have the record. So, when they draw the threshold and you’re above it, then they cancel your five-year visas and bring you to B-5, B-3. So, we give assurances that we’ll work with them to make sure that our people are not overstaying. So those of you applying for visas, please, when you go, come back. Because you affect everybody else,” he stressed.
He added: “Let me also emphasize that there was no financial consideration as part of the understanding between Ghana and the United States.”
The President further announced that negotiations are ongoing to resolve the trade tariff of 15% imposed by the United States on Ghana and to renew the AGOA which expired in September 2025.
“I also wish to inform you that negotiations are ongoing with regards to the trade tariffs of 15 percent and the renewal of AGOA, which was a zero percent tariff on African nations. And so those negotiations are still ongoing,” he announced.
The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) was a U.S. trade program that offered eligible sub-Saharan African countries duty-free access to the American market. The program expired on September 30, 2025 after it was initially extended in 2015 for an additional 10 years.
AGOA provided sub-Saharan African countries with the most liberal market access to the U.S. outside of formal free trade agreements, allowing thousands of products to enter the U.S. duty-free. This included goods like textiles, apparel, and vehicles.
