A total of 960 migrant beggars has been removed from the streets of Accra and Kumasi between January and July 2026 as the government intensifies efforts to address irregular migration and activities associated with it.
The Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, disclosed this on Monday, August 24, 2026, during the Government Accountability Series.
According to the Minister, the Ghana Immigration Service has also removed 186 other illegal immigrants from the country within the same period.
Mr Muntaka said the exercise formed part of government’s broader efforts to reduce irregular migration and unlawful activities associated with it to the barest minimum.
He stressed that the government was determined to increase the scale of the operation, with additional logistical support expected to be provided to the relevant security agencies.
“Let me be clear that the challenge before us is not of lack of political will, security, intelligence, or leadership. It is principally a question of scale,” Mr Muntaka said.
He disclosed that a high-level consensus had been reached to provide logistical support to strengthen the agencies responsible for immigration enforcement.
“I can assure the public that there is a high-level consensus with earmarked logistical support to increase the scale of the removals and strengthen our bodies. Evidence of that will soon be apparent,” he added.
The Minister said the operations were being carried out with Ghana’s international obligations in mind, particularly the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement of Persons.
“We are pursuing this removal fully conscious of Ghana’s obligation under the ECOWAS protocol on free movement of persons, as well as the diplomatic relations and long-standing ties we and other countries have,” he said.
He explained that the government’s focus was not only on removing undocumented migrants but also on tackling unlawful activities linked to irregular migration.
Mr Muntaka said the Immigration Service was particularly concerned about foreign nationals involved in street begging, illegal mining, prostitution, QNET-related activities and other unlawful activities.
He, however, emphasised that enforcement actions would be conducted lawfully and with respect for human dignity.
“Our objective is to reduce irregular migration and unlawful activities associated with it to the barest minimum, while ensuring that enforcement actions are lawful, undertaken by the appropriate authorities, and carried out in a manner that is respectful of human dignity,” he said.
The Minister also reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to maintaining its tradition of hospitality while prioritising national security and public order.
“We will continue to protect Ghana’s tradition of hospitality, but we will do so alongside a firm commitment to the rule of law and national security and public order,” Mr Muntaka said.
The latest figures form part of the government’s broader security-sector accountability report covering its activities from January 2025 to July 2026.
Ghana|Atinkaonline.com|Mavis Fantevi