The Ghana Immigration Service has carried out a major intelligence-led operation in the Greater Accra Region, rescuing hundreds of individuals and targeting organised street begging networks linked to human trafficking.
In a statement signed by Deputy Commissioner of Immigration Maud Anima Quainoo, Head of the Public Affairs Department today, the exercise, conducted in the early hours of Wednesday, April 15, 2026, forms part of a second phase of enforcement aimed at dismantling criminal groups that exploit vulnerable people, particularly women and children, under the guise of street begging.
According to the Service, the operation covered key areas in Accra, including Abossey Okai, Zongo Junction, Nima, Madina and Kaneshie, where such activities are prevalent.
In total, 305 West African nationals were encountered during the exercise, comprising 113 children, 66 adult women and 126 adult men. Among the children, 36 were boys and 77 were girls, highlighting growing concerns about the exploitation of minors within these networks.
The GIS indicated that all rescued individuals are currently undergoing profiling and immigration procedures at a designated centre, in line with established protocols. Authorities are also working with relevant stakeholders to ensure that victims, especially children, receive the necessary care, protection and support.
The Service noted that the latest operation builds on a previous exercise, with improved coordination and more targeted interventions to disrupt trafficking networks operating through organised begging.
It reaffirmed its commitment to tackling human trafficking, protecting vulnerable migrants and enforcing immigration laws, while urging the public to assist by reporting suspicious activities to the nearest immigration office.
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