Ghanaian authorities have detained more than 2,200 undocumented migrants in a sweeping crackdown targeting organised street begging and criminal activities in the capital, Accra. According to the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), a total of 2,241 individuals, including 1,332 children, were arrested in early morning raids on Friday as part of a broader national security campaign.
The operation was carried out in response to increasing concerns about the growing number of foreign nationals allegedly involved in illegal activities. Ghana’s Interior Minister, Muntaka Mubarak, confirmed the arrests via Facebook, describing the street begging networks as “a threat to national security” and damaging to Ghana’s international image.
According to GIS officials, many of the arrested individuals entered the country through unapproved routes, bypassing immigration controls. Most of them were said to be from neighbouring countries, including Burkina Faso, Togo, and Nigeria, with a few originating from countries further afield.
The detained migrants will undergo both security and medical screenings before repatriation. Authorities insist the repatriation process will be handled professionally and in accordance with human rights standards.
While some Ghanaians praised the move as necessary, others expressed concern over the humanitarian implications. “We are here only to find something to eat,” said Chamsiya Alhassan, a mother from Niger, who spoke to AFP. She explained that her family fled to Ghana after her relatives were killed in jihadist attacks in the Sahel region.
The Sahel crisis—marked by growing extremist violence in countries like Burkina Faso—continues to push displaced people into Ghana and other safer West African nations, intensifying migration pressures.
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