Ghanaian immigration authorities have detained more than 2,000 undocumented foreign nationals in Accra as part of a large-scale operation targeting criminal networks and street begging. The early Friday raids led to the arrest of 2,241 individuals, including 1,332 children.
In a statement, the Ghana Immigration Service said the crackdown is part of broader efforts to tackle growing concerns over organised street begging, which officials claim involves foreign nationals. Interior Minister Muntaka Mubarak described the issue as a “national security risk” that also “tarnishes the image of our country,” according to a Facebook post.
Mubarak noted that many of those arrested entered Ghana through “unapproved routes,” avoiding formal immigration processes. Most of the detainees are from neighbouring countries, including Burkina Faso and Togo, while others come from Nigeria and beyond.
Authorities plan to conduct thorough medical and security screenings before repatriating the individuals, promising to carry out the process with full respect for human rights and professional standards.
The crackdown has drawn mixed reactions from the public. John Gyamfi, a 43-year-old spare parts dealer, welcomed the move, saying, “It’s long overdue. Some of these foreigners are involved in prostitution and street begging. They embarrass the name of Ghana.”
However, not all agree. Some migrants say they came to Ghana out of desperation, not to cause harm. “Finding food has become a problem for us,” said Chamsiya Alhassan, a mother from Niger, as she waited for a bus. “Our husbands and relatives were killed. We came here just to survive.”
The operation comes amid rising insecurity across the West African Sahel, where jihadist violence linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State has forced thousands to flee their homes in search of safety in neighbouring countries like Ghana.
