The Federal Government has expressed concern after the United States deported 13 Nigerians to Ghana without prior consultation with Abuja.
Gatekeepers News reports that according to reports, the Nigerians, along with one Gambian, were flown out of the U.S. on a military cargo plane and handed over to Ghanaian authorities, despite having no ties to the country.
Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, confirmed that Accra accepted the deportees “purely on humanitarian principle,” citing Ghana’s Pan-African commitment after other West African nations allegedly rejected the request.
“We just could not continue to take the suffering of our fellow West Africans. We made it clear to the Americans that we will not accept one dollar, because taking the deportees comes with some financial burden,” Ablakwa said.
However, Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs disowned the arrangement, insisting its citizens should have been returned directly.
“What we have only rejected is the deportation of other nationals into Nigeria. Our citizens can be returned directly, and there is no reason to send them to another country first,” said ministry spokesperson Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa.
Dispute Over Deportees’ Status
Ghanaian officials said the 14 deportees had already left Accra for their home countries. Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Ghana’s Minister for Government Communications and Presidential Spokesperson, told the Associated Press that the Gambian had returned home while the Nigerians were sent back on a bus.
But lawyers for four of the Nigerians contradicted the claim, insisting in court filings and interviews that their clients remained detained at a facility in Ghana.
Ofosu dismissed the allegation.
“None of them are staying in this country. Nobody is being held in any camp, and nobody’s rights have been abused,” he told AP in a phone interview.
U.S. Visa Fee Concerns
Meanwhile, the U.S. Mission in Nigeria reiterated that visa application fees remain non-refundable and non-transferable, acknowledging frustrations from Nigerians whose applications were denied.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the mission stated:
“We hear your concerns regarding U.S. visa application fees. Like most countries, U.S. visa fees cover the cost of processing the application, regardless of the outcome. While fees are non-refundable and non-transferable, each application is reviewed thoroughly and fairly. For best results, prepare your application carefully and use the resources on our website.”
