Ghana has agreed to receive West African citizens deported from the United States, President John Dramani Mahama confirmed on Wednesday, September 10.

Reuters reports that the first group of deportees, including 14 people from Nigeria, Gambia, and other countries, has already arrived in Accra. Ghanaian authorities are helping them return safely to their home countries.

President Mahama explained that the US asked Ghana to accept migrants being removed from the country who were not Ghanaian. He said Ghana agreed because West Africans can enter Ghana without a visa.

He added that the decision makes sense since people from West African countries do not need a visa to travel to Ghana.

This agreement follows the US’s recent increase in deportations under President Donald Trump. Trump’s administration has been sending migrants to “third countries” as part of a strict immigration policy.

Previously, the US has deported migrants to countries like Eswatini, South Sudan, and Rwanda, despite concerns from human rights organizations about their safety.

Nigeria, on the other hand, has declined similar requests. In July, Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar said the government would not accept deportees who are not Nigerian citizens, citing economic and security concerns.