Ghana Immigration Service Cracks Down on Street Children in Accra.
The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has launched a special operation in Accra’s Kaneshie and Abossey Okai areas, targeting street children and their guardians, many believed to be foreign nationals.
On Friday, May 16, immigration officers rounded up dozens of women and children who regularly begged for alms at intersections and along sidewalks.
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The individuals were interviewed and escorted into immigration vehicles as part of efforts to:
1. Decongest the streets
2. Enforce immigration laws
3. Address child exploitation
4. Curb undocumented migration
The GIS spokesperson stated that the increasing presence of street dwellers, particularly minors of foreign origin, poses a serious social and security challenge.
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This operation aims to identify undocumented individuals and ensure immigration compliance.
Concerns about street-connected children have been growing, with Dr. Ernestina Tetteh, Convener of the Coalition for Street-Connected Children Organisation, warning about the organised nature of child streetism in Ghana, particularly involving trafficked children from neighboring countries.
The Immigration Service will continue screening and investigations to determine the legal status of those apprehended.
The operation may expand to other parts of Accra and urban centers in the coming weeks.
