Mass Arrest in Accra: GIS Moves to Clear Streets of Foreign Beggars

A sweeping immigration operation across Accra has led to the arrest of 2,241 foreign nationals, including 1,332 children, for illegal street begging and suspected immigration violations.

The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) conducted the coordinated swoop in the early hours of Friday, May 16, targeting busy hotspots such as Kotoka International Airport, Madina, Kaneshie, Kwame Nkrumah Circle, and Abossey Okai.

According to GIS officials, the move is part of a wider strategy to tackle illegal street begging, especially among foreign nationals, and to address related social and security concerns.

Speaking at a press conference, GIS Head of Public Affairs, Michael Amoako-Atta, disclosed that the operation netted 384 adult males, 525 adult females, 577 male children, and 755 female children — a figure that has raised alarm over the involvement of minors in street begging.

“These individuals are currently being profiled. Once the process is complete, arrangements will be made to repatriate them to their countries of origin,” Amoako-Atta said.

He added that the surge in foreign beggars, particularly children, is a growing challenge in urban areas, and authorities are determined to bring order to public spaces while enforcing immigration laws.

The GIS emphasized that while the operation aims to restore public order, it is also guided by humanitarian considerations. Each case is being assessed to determine the legal status of the individuals, and minors are receiving special attention during the profiling process.

The arrested individuals will be held temporarily until the necessary documentation is completed, after which repatriation procedures will begin. Buses have already been arranged for their eventual removal.

Officials say the crackdown was prompted by an increase in foreign nationals occupying busy intersections and pedestrian walkways, often accompanied by children, and sometimes operating in organized groups.

The GIS reaffirmed its commitment to managing migration in a lawful and humane manner, while protecting the safety and dignity of both citizens and non-citizens.

This latest development has sparked renewed debate on how Ghana handles foreign migrants, child welfare, and urban poverty.