Ghana Hosts Africa Oil Week as Government Defends Acceptance of U.S. Deportees

Lead Ghana launched the Africa Oil Week energy summit in Accra on Monday while Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa defended the country’s decision to accept West African deportees from the United States on humanitarian grounds.

Nut Graf The four-day Africa Oil Week convenes global energy leaders to discuss upstream development and forge investment deals, underscoring Ghana’s drive to attract strategic partnerships. Simultaneously, the administration reiterated its Pan-African commitment by rebutting claims that accepting U.S. deportees signals endorsement of American immigration policies.

Africa Oil Week Kicks Off Africa’s premier upstream energy event opened at the Accra International Conference Centre, drawing heads of state, ministers, investors and oil-sector executives. Sessions will cover mergers and acquisitions, policy dialogue, licensing and capacity building across the continent.

Deportees Acceptance Defended At a press briefing in Accra, Minister Ablakwa emphasized that Ghana’s consent to receive West Africans removed from the U.S. stems solely from “humanitarian principles and Pan-African compassion,” not as quid pro quo for favors or funds. He disclosed that 14 deportees, including Nigerians and a Gambian, have already arrived and will undergo vetting to exclude individuals with criminal records.

Conference Spotlights Human Capital Also in Accra on Monday, the Design Technology Institute (DTI) held its Precision Quality Conference, focusing on investments in skill development and workforce capacity to support Ghana’s industrial growth. Government and private-sector leaders discussed strategies to bridge talent gaps in emerging sectors.

Women in Agribusiness Week Underway The Ghana Women in Agribusiness Week commenced today across Eastern and Greater Accra regions, featuring exhibitions and panels on finance, technology and market access for women-led enterprises. The week-long event aims to drive inclusive growth in the agricultural value chain.