Ghana has received the first batch of West African nationals deported from the United States, President John Mahama announced on Wednesday.

A group of 14 deportees—including Nigerians and one Gambian—arrived in Accra this week, with the Ghanaian government facilitating their return to their respective home countries.

Mahama confirmed that Ghana agreed to host deported nationals from across West Africa under the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) protocol, which permits visa-free travel within the region.

“We were approached by the US to accept third-party nationals who were being removed from the US. And we agreed with them that West African nationals were acceptable,” Mahama said at a press conference, adding that such individuals “don’t need a visa anyway” to be in Ghana.

The arrangement comes under US President Donald Trump’s escalating deportation campaign, which has included sending individuals to countries where they have little or no prior connection. Washington has also sought to deport convicted criminals to South Sudan and Eswatini, while Venezuelan nationals have reportedly been pressured onto flights bound for African countries.