The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has apprehended 2,241 foreign beggars from various hotspots across Accra.

The swoop, conducted in the early hours of Friday, May 16, targeted eleven strategic locations, including Kotoka International Airport, Madina, Kaneshie, Kwame Nkrumah Circle, and Abossey Okai.

In a press statement, Head of Public Relations for the GIS, Michael Amoako-Atta, provided a breakdown of those arrested.

The group includes: 384 adult males, 525 adult females, 577 male children  and 755 female children.

“As we speak, we have arrested 2,241 foreign nationals. All these persons are currently undergoing profiling,” Mr. Amoako-Atta said.

He added that buses have been arranged to repatriate the individuals to their home countries once the profiling process is completed.

The GIS explained that the operation is part of a broader strategy to prevent potential national security threats, manage illegal migration, and sanitize public spaces in the capital city.

The presence of foreign beggars, particularly in busy commercial areas and near transportation hubs, has been a growing concern for both authorities and residents. Many of the individuals arrested are believed to be from neighboring West African countries and are often seen begging with young children in tow.

Mr. Amoako-Atta reiterated the GIS’s commitment to upholding immigration laws and maintaining public safety, assuring the public that such operations would continue to be carried out in accordance with the law and with respect for human rights.