Ghana moves to clear streets of foreign beggars, amid growing congestion and security concerns

The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has commenced a nationwide operation to repatriate foreign nationals engaged in street begging, an initiative aimed at reducing urban congestion and addressing mounting public safety concerns.

As of May 19, 2025 a total of 2,241 foreign nationals, largely Nigeriens, have been arrested and processed for deportation, according to an official press release by the GIS.

The move follows years of public outcry over the growing number of beggars, many of whom are children and women, seen on major streets and intersections in Accra, Kumasi, Tamale and other cities.

Their increasing presence, often accompanied by aggressive begging tactics, has been cited not only as a nuisance but also as a serious challenge to pedestrian and vehicular traffic.

“The Ghana Immigration Service wishes to update the general public on the ongoing removal of foreign nationals engaged in begging on the streets of Accra and other major cities,” the statement said.

The breakdown of the arrested individuals are; out of the 2,241 detained at the GIS Holding Centre, 2,073 are Nigeriens, followed by 138 Nigerians, 28 Burkinabes and one each from Guinea and Mali.

Repatriation processes began on Saturday, May 18, 2025 after profiling, security screening and segregation by gender and age were completed –  all carried out in accordance with international human rights standards. So far, 925 persons have already been deported, including 819 Nigeriens and 106 Nigerians.

Because of limited space at the GIS Holding Centre at the National Headquarters, the authorities have temporarily halted further arrests to manage congestion.

“Meals, among other needs of persons in detention, have been provided… and the GIS Clinic is on standby to provide medical services where necessary,” the release assured.

Despite the humanitarian approach, the Service is firm about continuing the Special Operation in due course, to rid the streets of beggars and clamp down on suspected criminal networks operating behind the scenes.

Street begging by foreign nationals in Ghana, particularly in Accra, has grown steadily over the past five to seven years, with most of the individuals believed to have entered the country through Ghana’s porous northern borders.

The phenomenon became particularly pronounced around 2019 and by 2021, the issue had drawn concern from city authorities, civil society and even Parliament.

The beggars – predominantly women and children – are often seen stationed at traffic lights in areas such as Kwame Nkrumah Circle, Shiashie, Dzorwulu Junction, Tetteh Quarshie Roundabout, Accra Mall, the Airport area and other central business districts.

In Kumasi, they are regularly seen around Kejetia, Adum and Asafo, while in Tamale, they dot the Tamale-Bolgatanga Highway and other urban intersections.

“It’s not just a humanitarian issue anymore. They pose serious safety risks and contribute heavily to traffic congestion. Drivers are distracted and pedestrians are harassed,” he said.

The latest operation by GIS comes just days after the Immigration Service began arresting street children, a development that has sparked mixed reactions.

While some have applauded the effort to protect minors from exploitation, human rights advocates have cautioned that children should not be treated as criminals.

“The state must differentiate between trafficked minors and adults who are part of larger criminal networks,” said Efua Akoto of ChildWatch Ghana, adding that “There must be a child protection component in these arrests.”

While the ongoing repatriation exercise may offer temporary relief to traffic and public order challenges, experts warn that the root causes of illegal migration and street begging must be addressed holistically.

Poverty, lack of education, and porous border controls are often cited as the push factors driving migrants into Ghana’s cities.

According to migration researcher Dr. Abdul Majeed of the University of Ghana, the situation requires “a diplomatic and regional approach.”

“Many of these nationals come from neighboring Sahelian countries facing economic hardship and insecurity. A repatriation program without cross-border development support is only a short-term fix,” Dr Majeed explained.

The Ghana Immigration Service has called on the public, civil society and media to continue supporting the exercise.

“The GIS assures the general public of its commitment to operating fair and firm immigration systems and contributing to national security and development,” the press release emphasised.

“Let us work together to restore order, dignity, and safety on our streets.”

 

The post Ghana moves to clear streets of foreign beggars, amid growing congestion and security concerns appeared first on The Ghanaian Chronicle.

Read Full Story