Immigration Clears Street Children, Foreign Nationals In Operation At Abossey Okai

The Ghana Immigration Service has launched a special operation in Kaneshie and Abossey Okai to remove street children and their guardians—many of whom are suspected to be foreign nationals—from the streets of Accra.

The exercise, which took place in the early hours of Friday, May 16, 2025, was carried out by immigration officers as part of a broader effort to address the rising presence of non-Ghanaian street dwellers, especially minors, in the capital’s bustling commercial areas.

During the operation, immigration vehicles rounded up numerous women and children believed to be foreign nationals.

Officers engaged with individuals before escorting them from sidewalks and intersections where they typically beg for alms from motorists and pedestrians.

Authorities say the exercise is part of a nationwide initiative aimed at decongesting urban streets, enhancing public safety, and tackling child exploitation.

It also seeks to identify undocumented migrants and enforce immigration regulations.

The move follows recent concerns raised by Dr. Ernestina Tetteh, Convener of the Coalition for Street-Connected Children Organisation (CSCCO).

On May 8, 2025, she warned about the growing and increasingly organised nature of child streetism in Ghana, particularly involving children from neighbouring countries.