GIS gives updates on repatriation of street beggars

By Haruna Sumaila Abugri

The Ghana Immigration Service says it is employing international standards in the ongoing repatriation of foreign nationals engaged in street begging.

Of the 2241 immigrants that the Service penned to repatriate, 925 has been successfully repatriated as at 18/5/2025.

The service assured that its outfit is handling the repatriation exercise in accordance with best practice.

Below is a release copied The Herald.

Update On Processes For Removal Of Foreign Nationals Engaged In Street Begging

1. The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) wishes to update the general public on the ongoing removal of foreign nationals engaged in begging on the streets of Accra and other major cities.

• The breakdown of nationalities of the 2,241 persons currently held at designated Holding Centre are as follows:

Nationality	Nigerien	Nigerian	Burkinabe	Guinean	Malian	Total
Total	2,073	138	28	1	1	2,241

• All affected immigrants had to undergo profiling and security screening in line with Standard Operating Procedures. Immigrants were also segregated based on their gender and age, in line with international best practices.

• Repatriation could not commence on Friday, 17^th May, 2025, because the above processes continued into the late hours of the day.  

• Repatriation was initiated in the morning of Saturday, 18^th May, 2025. At the time of this release, 925 persons have been successfully repatriated, and processes are underway to remove the rest. The breakdown is as follows:

Nationality	Nigerien	Nigerian	Burkinabe	Guinea Conakry	Malian	Total
Total	819	106	–	–	–	925

• Meals, among other needs of persons in detention, have been provided for by the Service, and the GIS Clinic is on standby to provide medical services where necessary.

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• To avoid congestion at the Holding Centre at the National Headquarters, there has been a temporary hold on arrests.
  
  
• Management wishes to reiterate that the Special Operation is being conducted humanely in cognisance of the rights of all migrants.

• The GIS remains committed to its core values of Professionalism and Respect for Human Rights, and assures the general public of humane handling of affected immigrants.

1. The GIS expresses utmost gratitude to all stakeholders, especially the general public and the media, for their support throughout this exercise.

1. As Ghana’s lead agency in migration management and border security,  the GIS assures the general public of its commitment to operating fair and firm immigration systems and contributing to national security and development.   

1. The Special Operation will resume and continue in due course, in the effort to rid the streets of beggars and clamp down on criminal networks.

1. The Service wishes to request continuous collaboration and support from all stakeholders for the success of this exercise.

SGD.

M. AMOAKO-ATTA

ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF IMMIGRATION

HEAD OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Tel: 0555027024

Email: [email protected]

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