GIS Pauses Operation Targeting Street Begging Due to Overcrowding
The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has temporarily suspended its operation targeting foreign nationals engaged in street begging in Accra and other major cities, citing overcrowding at its National Headquarters Holding Centre. The decision follows the arrest of 2,244 individuals, predominantly from Niger, during a crackdown aimed at curbing street begging and associated criminal networks.
Of those detained, 925 have been repatriated, including 819 Nigeriens and 106 Nigerians, with ongoing profiling and security checks contributing to logistical challenges. The GIS emphasized that the operation adheres to international human rights standards, providing meals, medical care, and gender and age-segregated facilities for detainees. The suspension is to manage congestion while processing continues.
The operation, launched to clear streets and disrupt organized begging networks, revealed that over 92% of detainees are Nigerien economic migrants, highlighting regional migration patterns. The GIS noted logistical hurdles, including thorough screening to meet global standards, but assured the public that operations will resume once capacity issues are resolved.
Authorities have called for stakeholder support, including from the media and public, to sustain the initiative. The pause is helping address the complexities of large-scale repatriation and the nation’s commitment to enforcing immigration laws humanely. Discussions reflect mixed sentiments, with some praising the GIS’s efforts and others questioning the feasibility of sustained enforcement without addressing root causes like poverty in neighboring countries.