By Hannah Gyamfua MENSAH
The recent wave of deportations under the Trump administration has placed thousands of Ghanaians in a precarious situation.
As of November 2024, over three thousand Ghanaians remain on the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) non-detained docket, facing an uncertain future as the U.S. government accelerates the removal of undocumented migrants.
This situation mirrors the infamous 1983 ‘Ghana Must Go’ crisis, when over one million Ghanaians were forcibly expelled from Nigeria under strict immigration laws. However, the key difference today is that the enforcer is the United States, and Ghana once again finds itself with a possible challenge of absorbing a large number of returnees without a structured reintegration plan.
Without a comprehensive strategy to facilitate their reintegration, the future looks uncertain and deeply challenging for returnees, especially amidst Ghana’s current economic situation.
Ghana risks repeating the failures of past deportation crises, leaving thousands of returnees stranded without hope or a path to stability. Involuntary return of migrants to their origin, most at times come with some dire consequences. The modality and abrupt nature of such returns often mean that returnees have no sustainable reintegration plan, making them highly vulnerable to economic, social, and psychological struggles upon their return.
Ghana currently faces high rates of unemployment and underemployment, which may worsen with the arrival of deportees who lack the skills and certifications required for Ghana’s labor market. Many returnees have spent decades outside Ghana, making it difficult for them to reintegrate into the local job market, often leading to financial distress and economic hardship.
Beyond economic challenges, social reintegration poses significant hurdles. Involuntary returns are often met with stigma and social exclusion, as many deportees face rejection from their families and communities who may perceive them as failures.
The lack of social acceptance discourages returnees from seeking community support, deepening their sense of isolation. For those who assimilated into host cultures, the struggle with identity loss further complicates their reintegration.
The mental and emotional toll of deportation is equally severe. The experience of forced removal, detention, and separation from family leaves many deportees with trauma, depression, and anxiety.
The sudden loss of stability triggers emotional distress, and the absence of mental health support services further exacerbates their reintegration challenges. Without comprehensive reintegration policies, many returnees may find themselves trapped in a cycle of hardship, vulnerability, and social exclusion, making it imperative for Ghana to adopt proactive measures to support them.
The possible return of over 3,000 Ghanaians from the U.S. under Trump’s policies should serve as a wake-up call for Ghana to develop a long-term reintegration framework that ensures the dignity and economic stability of its returning citizens, to contribute to national development. Ghana cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of 1983, where returnees were left to fend for themselves, leading to social instability and economic despair.
In the absence of a comprehensive national return and reintegration mechanism, deportees risk falling into poverty, homelessness, and social alienation, leading to a cycle of re-migration through irregular means, exposing them to further vulnerabilities. Instead, a well-structured reintegration policy can transform returnees into valuable contributors to national development. Ghana must act now to ensure a humane, sustainable, and structured approach to reintegration.
A National Return and Reintegration Mechanism is critical for Ghana’s ability to effectively manage the increasing number of returnees. Ghana must develop a structured, multi-sectoral return and reintegration policy that ensures returnees receive adequate support to rebuild their lives and reintegrate successfully. This requires a holistic approach, combining economic assistance, psychosocial support, and community engagement to address the challenges faced by deportees.
A National Return and Reintegration Mechanism must prioritize economic empowerment programs to help returnees secure livelihoods. The government, in partnership with the private sector, should implement skills development programs tailored to returnees, equipping them with the necessary tools to adapt to Ghana’s labour market. Additionally, entrepreneurship support, including micro-financing programs, should be introduced to help deportees start small businesses and achieve financial independence.
Beyond economic stability, social reintegration initiatives must be implemented to combat stigma and misinformation surrounding deportees. Community awareness programs and public campaigns should be launched to foster understanding and acceptance.
Family counselling and mediation programs will be essential to prevent family rejection and support reunification efforts. To further aid reintegration, social welfare support, including temporary housing and financial assistance, should be provided to the most vulnerable returnees to ease their transition.
Recognizing the psychological impact of forced return, the reintegration policy must include mental health and psychological support to address trauma, anxiety, and emotional distress. The government should establish trauma-informed counseling programs, providing deportees with professional help to navigate their experiences.
Peer mentorship programs, where returnees support one another, can create a sense of community and resilience. Collaboration with faith-based and community organizations should also be encouraged, offering emotional and spiritual guidance to deportees struggling with identity loss and reintegration challenges.
A National Return and Reintegration Mechanism is a multi-sectoral collaboration that ensures returnees are successfully reintegrated into Ghanaian society. The government must take the lead by developing and implementing a formal reintegration policy, providing the conducive policy environment, infrastructure and possible funding. This calls for a centralized reintegration program coordinated by respective Ministries and Agencies.
Also, the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) play a crucial role in this endeavour by advocating for returnee rights, offering legal aid and social services, and facilitating community-based integration programs to ease the transition.
Additionally, international organizations such as IOM, UNHCR, the EU, and the GIZ can provide technical and financial support, fund skills development and entrepreneurship training, and collaborate on regional reintegration frameworks to prevent returnees from resorting to irregular migration once again.
A coordinated effort between these stakeholders will create a sustainable reintegration model, ensuring that returnees are empowered to rebuild their lives and contribute meaningfully to Ghana’s development.
With the proposed National Return and Reintegration Mechanism, it is equally important for Ghana to protect the rights and dignity of its citizens, especially those with migration aspirations.
To achieve this, Ghana must pursue bilateral agreements on migration, advocating for expanded legal migration pathways, such as work and study visas, to create structured opportunities for Ghanaians abroad. This proactive approach will reduce irregular migration while providing safer and more sustainable alternatives for those seeking opportunities beyond Ghana’s borders.
Additionally, the government must actively negotiate humane migration policies through diplomatic engagements, ensuring that measures and legal safeguards are in place to prevent abrupt removals that leave deportees vulnerable to economic instability and social displacement. Advocacy for deferred deportation should also be a priority, allowing deportees sufficient transition time to prepare for their return, minimizing the socio-economic impact of forced removals.
Through proactive diplomacy and strong legal frameworks, Ghana can protect its citizens, enhance international migration cooperation, and ensure that returnees and aspiring migrants are treated fairly and humanely, fostering a more structured and dignified migration system.
Ghana must not fail its returnees because how a nation treats its most vulnerable defines its future. If properly managed, returnees can fuel and implement the concept of brain gain, where their acquired skills, networks and knowledge enhance Ghana’s economy, beyond economic contributions, returnees can also serve as mentors and advocates for legal migration pathways, sharing their experiences to guide aspiring migrants toward safer and more structured migration options. With the right support, returnees can shift from displacement to empowerment, ultimately benefiting both themselves and the country as a whole.
The writer’s research interests are Migrants in precarious situations, Migrants integration and Migration Governance, with experience of advancing initiatives and partnerships within the humanitarian sector that support effective migration management. Please contact Hannah by email: [email protected].
