The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has temporarily suspended the ongoing operation targeting the arrest of foreign nationals engaged in street begging in some cities across the country.
The Service cites overcrowding in detention facilities as the reason, stating that the halt is necessary “to avoid congestion at the Holding Centre at the National Headquarters.”
This follows the arrest of 2,244 individuals, mostly from Niger, who were detained by the GIS in a major crackdown in parts of Accra and other major cities where they were begging for alms.
To date, 925 detainees have been repatriated to their home countries, including 819 Nigeriens and 106 Nigerians. The GIS has now halted further arrests, citing ongoing processing and deportation procedures which has led to overcrowding of its facilities.
“The Special Operation is being conducted humanely in compliance [with] the rights of all migrants,” the GIS stated, emphasising that meals, medical care, and other necessities are being provided to those still in custody.
The suspension suggests that logistical challenges are hindering the management of the large number of detainees, particularly given the thorough screening process involved.
Each arrested migrant undergoes profiling, security checks, and segregation by gender and age to meet international standards.
The GIS assured the public that operations will resume “in due course” as part of efforts to “rid the streets of beggars and clamp down on criminal networks.”
Authorities have, meanwhile, appealed for continued support from stakeholders, including the media and general public.
The halt in arrests highlights the complexities of large-scale repatriation exercises as Ghana seeks to enforce its immigration laws.
With Nigeriens accounting for over 92% of detainees, the operation has also shed light on the prevalence of economic migrants from neighbouring West African nations in Ghana’s street begging industry.
The GIS did not specify the duration of the suspension but maintained that its approach remains professional and respectful of human rights.
925 out of 2,241 arrested illegal immigrants repatriated by Ghana Immigration Service
