The Ghana Immigration Service has rescued 606 undocumented migrants in a major operation targeting organized street begging networks in Kumasi.
The Ghana Immigration Service carried out the dawn exercise on Tuesday, April 21, through its Ashanti Regional Command. The team focused on hotspots including Asawase, Aboabo, Alabar, Akwatia Line, Dagomba Line, and Sabon Zongo.
Officials say the Ghana Immigration Service picked up 381 children, 72 women, and 153 men during the operation. Many of the victims are believed to be trafficked and forced into street begging.
The Ghana Immigration Service says the operation forms part of a nationwide campaign to tackle organized begging and human trafficking.
In a related exercise on April 15, the Ghana Immigration Service repatriated 356 West African nationals from areas including Abossey Okai, Nima, Madina, and Kaneshie.
Authorities returned the migrants to Niger, Nigeria, and Burkina Faso.
The Service explains that these operations do not target lawful movement but rather criminal exploitation, in line with the ECOWAS Free Movement Protocol.
Ghana Immigration Service supports victims and enforcement
The Ghana Immigration Service also worked with the Nigerian High Commission in Accra to assist 89 Nigerians to regularize their stay.
Officials later handed them over to anti-human trafficking authorities in Nigeria.
Comptroller General Samuel Basintale Amadu says the Ghana Immigration Service remains committed to protecting borders while respecting regional agreements.
He adds that the Service will continue to balance integration with firm action against trafficking.
The Ghana Immigration Service reminds the public that street begging is illegal under Ghana’s Beggars and Destitute Act.
