–BY Daniel Bampoe
In a sweeping dawn operation aimed at curbing the growing menace of street begging in the capital, the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has rounded up over 2,200 foreign nationals believed to be involved in the activity across key locations in Accra.
The intelligence-led exercise, carried out in the early hours of Friday, May 16, 2025, targeted densely populated areas such as Sabon Zongo, Nima, Abossey Okai, and the Obetsebi-Lamptey Roundabout.
These areas have become known hotspots for street begging, a phenomenon that has increasingly drawn public concern due to its links with trafficking and other underground networks.
According to the GIS, a total of 2,241 individuals were arrested during the operation, including 909 adults and a staggering 1,332 children.
The gender breakdown shows 961 males and 1,280 females.
The arrested individuals, all of whom are believed to be undocumented foreign nationals, are currently undergoing security and medical screening at the GIS National Headquarters in Accra.
This latest development comes against the backdrop of persistent concerns by civil society groups, residents, and city authorities about the surge in street begging, often involving women and children, some of whom are suspected to be victims of trafficking or exploitation.
The Ghana Immigration Service says the operation forms part of a broader initiative to clamp down on criminal syndicates that exploit vulnerable foreign nationals and facilitate their stay and activities in Ghana without proper documentation.
In a press statement signed by Assistant Commissioner of Immigration, Michael Amoako-Atta, Head of Public Affairs, the Service assured the public that all detainees will be treated humanely, with strict adherence to human rights standards and legal procedures.
“The operation seeks to repatriate undocumented foreign nationals humanely and disrupt criminal networks that facilitate their operations,” the statement read, adding that the GIS remains committed to protecting the security and dignity of all persons within Ghana’s borders.
This is not the first time the Immigration Service has taken steps to address the issue.
Previous operations in 2023 and 2024 also saw the detention and repatriation of hundreds of individuals, but the sheer scale of the current arrests underscores the persistence and complexity of the problem.
While the operation has received praise from some quarters for taking bold action to restore order in the city, human rights groups are expected to keep a close watch on the treatment of the detainees, especially the children, many of whom may be in vulnerable conditions.
The GIS has urged the public to report any suspicious activities involving undocumented migrants and reaffirmed its dedication to maintaining national security and public safety through lawful and humane enforcement measures.
