Minister-Designate for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has issued a clarification regarding the number of Ghanaians facing deportation from the United States. Contrary to earlier media reports suggesting a mass deportation of 6,200 Ghanaians under the Trump administration, Ablakwa stated during his parliamentary vetting that official US government figures indicate a significantly lower number.
Ablakwa emphasized that current information from US authorities points to only 156 Ghanaians at risk of imminent deportation. He attributed the discrepancy to earlier inaccurate reporting. He reassured the public that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is actively collaborating with US officials to protect the rights and well-being of the affected Ghanaians.
"There have been reports of 6,200 Ghanaians facing mass deportation," Ablakwa stated. "However, official communication from Washington D.C. to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirms that the number is 156, not 6,200."
This clarification comes amidst a broader context of increased immigration enforcement actions under the Trump administration. Since President Trump's inauguration, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has reportedly arrested over 3,500 unauthorized immigrants nationwide, with deportation flights utilizing military aircraft to transport individuals back to their home countries or other nations.
The Pew Research Center estimates that approximately 11 million unauthorized immigrants reside in the US, a nation with a total population of 341 million. This large undocumented population underscores the complex challenges surrounding immigration policy and enforcement. Ablakwa's clarification provides a more precise, albeit still concerning, picture of the situation affecting Ghanaians in the US. The Ministry's commitment to working with US authorities to ensure fair treatment for these citizens is a crucial aspect of this ongoing situation.
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