Ghana’s newly sworn-in Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has revealed that about 156 Ghanaians are facing deportation from the United States as part of President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.
Speaking in his first exclusive interview on The Key Points show with Alfred Ocansey on TV3, on Saturday, February 8, 2025 monitored by Wins Media GH, the minister stated that this is the official number they are working with. He said, “At the moment, 156 Ghanaians are facing imminent deportation from the US.”
He expressed concern about the situation, noting that it raises a bigger issue regarding the protection of Ghanaians abroad. He assured the public that the government is working on new ways to improve consular services to support Ghanaian citizens overseas. “We are going to introduce new measures to assist Ghanaians living in other countries,” he said.
Mr. Ablakwa also encouraged Ghanaians living abroad to stay connected with their embassies by registering with them. This, he explained, would help the government provide better support and protection. “Ghanaians abroad should get closer to the embassies, get registered, and we can properly take care of them,” he advised.
President Donald Trump has made mass deportation of undocumented immigrants a major policy. The US government has identified about 18,000 Indian nationals who entered the country illegally, and similar actions are being taken against other foreign nationals.
On Sunday, January 26, 2025, a nationwide immigration operation led to the arrest of 956 undocumented individuals, marking the highest number since Trump returned to office. The raids were conducted in several cities, including Chicago, Newark, and Miami, by federal agencies that now have expanded powers to detain immigrants.
Trump has remained firm on his promise to strengthen immigration enforcement. During his presidency, he has signed 21 executive orders aimed at changing the US immigration system. Comparatively, his predecessor, Joe Biden, deported an average of 311 people per day, mostly individuals with criminal records.
As Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr. Ablakwa has assured that the government will do its best to support affected Ghanaians and ensure their welfare is protected.
