Ghana Immigration Evacuation Sparks Child Rights Uproar


Child Rights International (CRI) has strongly criticized the recent evacuation exercise carried out by the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), citing serious violations of child protection standards. The operation, which took place on May 16, 2025, targeted street beggars in Accra's hotspots, Kaneshie, Abossey Okai, and Kwame Nkrumah Circle, resulting in the arrest of over 2,000 individuals, 60% of whom were children.


In a press statement presented by CRI Executive Director Bright Kweku Appiah, the organization expressed grave concern over the welfare and treatment of the children, many of whom are foreign nationals. Appiah emphasized that while street begging poses societal and economic risks, children caught in such conditions should not be treated as immigration offenders.


"These children are in need of care and protection, not penalization. Ghana's international obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, as well as national laws like the Children’s Act, require that their best interests be paramount," Appiah stated.


CRI faulted the GIS for conducting the exercise without coordination with the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, or any clear post-evacuation plan for the affected children. The organization highlighted the absence of protocols for reintegration or repatriation and raised concerns over weak border monitoring that allows undocumented minors to enter and remain in the country.


Calling the situation a "national emergency," CRI urged the government to adopt a sustainable, rights-based approach. Key recommendations include comprehensive bio-data collection, bilateral agreements with countries of origin, enhanced border security, and child-specific reintegration protocols.


"Leaving children on the streets is not just a social injustice; it is an economic and moral failure. Ghana must act now," the statement concluded.

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