Credit Kekeli K. Blamey
In a wide-scale operation targeting public spaces across the capital, the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has detained over 2,200 foreign nationals involved in street begging, citing national security concerns.
The swoop, carried out on Friday morning, covered major hotspots such as Kotoka International Airport, Madina, Kaneshie, Kwame Nkrumah Circle, and Abossey Okai.
Those apprehended include 384 adult males, 525 adult females, 577 male children, and 755 female children.
Addressing the media on May 16, GIS Head of Public Relations Michael Amoako-Atta said the individuals are undergoing profiling, after which they will be repatriated to their home countries. Buses have been arranged to facilitate the transport once the process is complete.
“This operation is part of our efforts to manage potential threats to national security and ensure public order,” Amoako-Atta stated.
The Immigration Service noted that beyond breaching immigration laws, the presence of large numbers of foreign beggars — many of them children — raises concerns about child exploitation and trafficking, prompting a more aggressive enforcement strategy in the capital.
Authorities say similar operations may be extended to other urban centers in the coming weeks.
