Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has dismissed reports that the country would accept the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia from the United States.
In a firm statement on Friday, Ablakwa said, “Ghana is not accepting Abrego Garcia. He cannot be deported to Ghana. This has been directly and unambiguously conveyed to U.S. authorities.”
He explained that during his meetings with American officials, he made clear that Ghana’s earlier agreement to accept a few non-criminal West African nationals — out of solidarity and humanitarian reasons — would not be extended.
The minister also criticised what he described as “misleading media reports”, stressing that Ghana never agreed to receive Abrego Garcia.
The controversy follows an ABC News report suggesting that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security planned to deport Abrego Garcia to Ghana, after other countries like Eswatini and Uganda were mentioned.
Abrego Garcia, who was once wrongly deported to El Salvador despite a U.S. court order protecting him, is now back in the United States facing human smuggling charges in Tennessee — allegations he denies.
Legal experts have said the reports appear to lack evidence, prompting Ghana’s foreign minister to issue the statement to correct the record.
As of press time, neither the U.S. Department of Homeland Security nor the White House had responded to Ghana’s position. Abrego Garcia’s lawyers are still contesting his deportation plans in court.
