Over 3,000 Migrant Beggars, Illegal Immigrants Removed Since 2025

The Government has reaffirmed its commitment to intensify the removal of migrant beggars and foreign nationals engaged in unlawful activities as part of measures to strengthen Ghana’s borders, public order and national security.

The Minister for the Interior, Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, disclosed that the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has removed 2,281 migrant beggars and 774 other illegal immigrants involved in transnational organised crime from Ghana by the end of 2025.

Speaking at the Government Accountability Series in Accra on Monday, Mr Muntaka said the enforcement exercise had continued into 2026, with 960 migrant beggars removed from the streets of Accra and Kumasi between January and July.

He said 186 other foreign nationals engaged in unlawful activities had also been removed during the period.

The Minister said Ghana’s relative peace and stability had made the country a destination for people from neighbouring countries facing security and economic challenges.

He, however, stressed that Ghana’s tradition of hospitality had to be balanced with the responsibility to protect the country’s borders, maintain public order and safeguard national security and economic interests.

“Our objective is to reduce irregular migration and unlawful activities associated with it to the barest minimum,” he said.

Mr Muntaka said the Government was undertaking the removals in accordance with the law and with due regard to Ghana’s obligations under the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, diplomatic relations and longstanding ties with other countries.

He said the challenge was not a lack of political will, security intelligence or leadership, but largely the scale of the problem.

The Minister said there was a high-level consensus within Government, supported by earmarked logistical resources, to increase the scale of removals and strengthen border security.

He assured the public that the Government would continue to protect Ghana’s tradition of hospitality while ensuring that the country’s laws were respected.

“We will continue to protect Ghana’s tradition of hospitality, but we will do so alongside a firm commitment to the rule of law, national security and public order,” he said.

Judith Twumwaa, ISD