The Interior Minister, Muntaka Mubarak, has disclosed that a cumulative 960 illegal immigrants and 3,241 migrant beggars were removed from Ghana between 2025 and July 2026.
The Minister made the disclosure during a Government Accountability Series briefing at Jubilee House, where he outlined measures being implemented to strengthen Ghana’s borders and address irregular migration.
He explained that by the end of 2025, the Ghana Immigration Service had removed 2,281 migrant beggars from the streets and a further 774 illegal immigrants, including persons linked to transnational organised crime.
By July 2026, the Immigration Service had removed an additional 960 migrant beggars from the streets of Kumasi and Accra, alongside 186 other illegal immigrants, bringing the cumulative figures to 3,241 migrant beggars and 960 illegal immigrants over the period.
Muntaka attributed the continued influx of foreign nationals partly to Ghana’s position as a beacon of stability in the sub-region, which has attracted people from countries experiencing security and economic difficulties and seeking refuge and opportunities in Ghana.
He, however, stressed that Ghana must balance its commitment to regional integration with the need to protect its borders, maintain public order and safeguard national security and economic interests.
“We are an oasis of peace and stability in the sub-region that has in recent years faced significant security and economic challenges. This explains the age of people from countries experiencing difficulties within the sub-region and beyond to look to Ghana for refuge. But we also have a duty to protect our borders, maintain public order and safeguard our national security and economic interests,” he stated.
The Minister reaffirmed that the removals were being carried out alongside measures to combat irregular migration and associated criminal activities, while ensuring that the rights of affected persons were respected. This position is also reflected in GIS operations, which have involved profiling, security screening and engagement with diplomatic missions and anti-trafficking authorities in the countries of origin.
He further noted that Ghana’s diplomatic relations with neighbouring countries remained an important consideration in managing migration and border-related issues, particularly as enforcement actions involving nationals of other countries could have wider diplomatic implications.
Muntaka assured the public that the scale of the removals would be increased, saying the government had reached the necessary high-level consensus and identified logistical support to strengthen the operations.
“Let me be clear that the challenges before us is not of lack of political will, security, intelligence or leadership. It is principally a question of scale and 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 removals come amid growing concerns over organised street-begging networks involving vulnerable migrants, particularly women and children. The Ghana Immigration Service has described some of these operations as anti-trafficking interventions, saying criminal networks facilitate the exploitation and control of foreign nationals under the guise of street begging.
In April 2026, for instance, the Service rescued 606 undocumented migrants in Kumasi, including 381 children, 72 women and 153 men. The GIS indicated that many of those rescued were believed to be victims of human trafficking and forced begging.
A separate operation in the Greater Accra Region that month also resulted in 305 West African nationals being encountered, including 113 children. The GIS described the exercise as an intelligence-led anti-trafficking operation aimed at disrupting networks exploiting vulnerable migrants through organised street begging.
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