The Minister for the Interior, Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, has disclosed that over 2,000 foreign nationals engaged in street begging across Ghana have been repatriated to their home countries in a coordinated effort to sanitise public spaces and restore order in urban centres.
Speaking at the inaugural session of the Government Accountability Series on Monday, the Minister revealed that 2,241 foreign street beggars had been removed from the streets of Accra and other major cities and sent back to their countries of origin.
“This exercise, carried out in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and the Ghana Immigration Service, has significantly reduced the number of beggars in our urban centres,” the Minister stated.
He emphasised that the intervention was conducted humanely, balancing enforcement with care for the vulnerable population. “This operation has restored public order while supporting a vulnerable group through a humane and coordinated response,” he said.
The Interior Minister further disclosed that strategies are being developed to sustain the initiative and prevent the resurgence of street begging by foreign nationals in the future.
“We are mapping out strategies to permanently eliminate this challenge not only in Accra but across other cities,” he said, hinting at the institutionalisation of surveillance and enforcement mechanisms.
The Government Accountability Series, under which the announcement was made, is a platform launched by the Mahama administration to promote transparency, inform the public on governance outcomes, and engage citizens in national development dialogue.
Minister Muntaka also commended the Ghana Police Service for its proactive approach in addressing urban safety challenges, noting a noticeable improvement in crime prevention and public order.
The Interior Ministry reiterated its commitment to maintaining law and order while ensuring the well-being of all residents—both Ghanaians and foreign nationals—within the country’s borders.
