Interior Ministry Clears Streets, Ensures Humane Process
Interior Minister Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak announced on July 14, 2025, that Ghana repatriated 2,241 foreign street beggars to their home countries in a joint operation with the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS). The initiative, aimed at restoring public order in urban centers, included a May 16, 2025, swoop in Accra, arresting 384 male adults, 577 male children, 525 female adults, and 755 female children.
Assistant Commissioner Mike Amoako-Atta, GIS Head of Public Affairs, stated that the operation targeted foreign beggars after public complaints about their presence. Those arrested were medically screened at the GIS clinic, profiled for documentation status, and bused to their destinations. The GIS ensured children were accompanied by parents or adult siblings, adhering to human rights principles, with no unaccompanied minors repatriated.
The operation focused on high-traffic areas like Circle, Kaneshie, and Lapaz, where beggars, mostly from Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, were detained. The Ministry of Gender provided temporary shelter and food during profiling. Mubarak emphasized ongoing strategies to eliminate street begging, citing public safety and urban cleanliness as priorities, while supporting vulnerable populations.
The repatriation follows a 2024 pilot program that removed 1,200 beggars, with 70% being foreign nationals. The GIS noted that some entered Ghana illegally, lacking proper documentation. The operation faced criticism from rights groups for potential profiling biases but was praised by residents for reducing street congestion and petty crime linked to begging.
Mubarak pledged continued efforts to address urban challenges, with GIS enhancing border controls to curb illegal migration. The government aims to balance humanitarian concerns with public order, ensuring repatriation processes respect dignity while tackling the socio-economic issues driving street begging in Ghana’s cities.