|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Ghanaian authorities have detained 2,241 undocumented foreign nationals, including more than 1,300 children, in a sweeping early morning operation in Accra aimed at cracking down on street begging and dismantling suspected criminal networks linked to migration flows from the Sahel region.
The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) said the “intelligence-led operation,” carried out on Friday, targeted hotspots such as Sabon Zongo, Nima, Abossey Okai, and the Odorkor-Obetsebi Roundabout, areas known for their concentration of foreign nationals involved in street begging and informal activities.
“The operation seeks to repatriate undocumented foreign nationals humanely and disrupt criminal networks that facilitate their operations,” the GIS said in an official statement signed by Assistant Commissioner of Immigration M. Amoako-Atta, Head of Public Affairs.
Among those detained are 909 adults – 384 males and 525 females – and 1,332 children, comprising 577 boys and 755 girls. Most of the individuals are reportedly nationals of countries from the conflict-ridden Sahel belt, although the GIS has not provided a detailed breakdown by nationality.
Authorities are currently conducting screening procedures, including security checks and medical evaluations, at the National Headquarters in Accra. Repatriation processes will follow, in line with Ghana’s immigration and human rights protocols.
“The Service assures all stakeholders and the general public that the detainees will be handled with the highest professionalism, with respect for their human rights,” the statement added.
The operation highlights the growing pressure Ghana faces as migration from the Sahel increases due to instability, poverty, and conflict. With neighbouring countries like Burkina Faso and Mali experiencing worsening insecurity, Ghana has seen a rising influx of undocumented migrants seeking refuge or economic opportunity in its cities.
This latest crackdown comes amid heightened regional concern over porous borders and the potential link between irregular migration, child exploitation, and organised criminal activity, including trafficking.
While the move has drawn support from some quarters for addressing urban disorder and national security, human rights advocates are likely to raise concerns over the treatment and protection of vulnerable individuals, particularly children, in such large-scale detentions.
The Ghana Immigration Service says it will continue monitoring and enforcing compliance with immigration regulations, even as it coordinates with foreign missions and relevant agencies to ensure the safe repatriation of those detained.
Email Daily Mail GH: stories@dailymailgh.com or
Whatsapp: +233(0)509928122
