Over 3,500 migrant beggars, illegal immigrants were removed from Ghana in 2025 – Interior Minister 

The government removed 2,281 migrant beggars and 774 other illegal immigrants involved in transnational organised crime from Ghana by the end of 2025, Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mubarak, has disclosed.

He said the exercise formed part of measures to address concerns over illegal immigration, public order and the increasing presence of migrant beggars on Ghana’s streets.

Speaking at the Government Accountability Series on Monday, August 24, Muntaka said the government had continued to enforce Ghana’s immigration laws and also taken into consideration the country’s obligations under the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement of Persons.

“By the end of 2025, 2,281 migrant beggars and 774 other illegal immigrants involved in transnational organized crimes had been removed from Ghana,” he said.

The Interior Minister said the exercise had continued into 2026, with a further 960 migrant beggars and 186 other illegal immigrants removed by July.

He said Ghana’s position as a relatively peaceful and stable country in the West African sub-region had made it an attractive destination for people fleeing security and economic challenges in neighbouring countries.

However, he said the government had a responsibility to protect the country’s borders, maintain public order and safeguard national security and economic interests.

The Minister said the government is undertaking the removals and also respecting Ghana’s diplomatic relations and regional obligations.

“The challenge before us is not a lack of political will, security intelligence, or leadership. It is, principally, a question of scale,” he said.

He further noted that the government had secured logistical support to increase the scale of the removals and strengthen Ghana’s borders, with further evidence of the measures expected to become visible soon.