Ghana deports at least six US-expelled West Africans

Ghana has deported at least six West Africans to Togo after they were expelled to Accra as part of an immigration crackdown by US President Donald Trump, their lawyers said on Tuesday.

One was released to a relative in Ghana while six were confirmed to have been sent to Togo, the deportees' lawyer Oliver Barker-Vormawor told AFP.

The deportees – from Nigeria, Togo, Mali, Liberia and The Gambia – had been sent to Ghana in early September, though the news did not break until about a week later.

Trump has overseen a drastic expansion of the practice of deporting people to countries other than their nation of origin.

Ghana says more US deportees expected in country

After Ghana's President John Mahama announced that an initial group of 14 deportees had arrived in Ghana, officials said they would be allowed to remain in the country temporarily, per regional visa-free travel rules, or return home.

As of last week, three had returned to their country of origin, with 11 remaining, Barker-Vormawor said.

One was sent to his native The Gambia, according to a court filing from his US-based lawyers.

Ghana's Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has said that 40 more deportees are expected in the coming days.

Decision 'does not endorse Trump's policy': Ghana

He said the decision to accept the deportees was based on humanitarian concerns and was not an "endorsement" of US immigration policy.

Barker-Vormawor said more deportees were already arriving in the country as of last week.