Undocumented migrants lament hardships as Immigration Service begins crackdown in Accra

The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) launched a nationwide operation on May 16. The focus is on undocumented migrants, starting in Accra.

This operation began early Friday morning. It aims to enforce immigration laws and improve national security.

Hundreds of undocumented migrants have been detained so far. Many are women, children, and men from neighboring countries. They have been living on the streets of Accra and surviving by begging.

The GIS's main goal is to remove street beggars from the capital. This aligns with concerns about national security and sanitation. However, many migrants say they fled extreme circumstances back home.

One detained migrant shared their struggle: "Finding food has become a serious problem for us." They explained that violence forced them to leave their home country to survive.

Public reactions to the crackdown are mixed. Some Ghanaians support the GIS's efforts, while others criticize the migrants for begging instead of working.

One resident pointed out, "Even our Ghanaian mothers have to sell water to make a living." Others expressed empathy for the migrants' situation.

"If they could work, they wouldn’t be begging," another local remarked.

Despite differing opinions, many citizens praised the authorities for taking action. A supporter said, "We truly appreciate the government’s and Immigration Service’s efforts."

The GIS plans to continue this operation in phases across other major cities. Their focus will be on enforcing immigration regulations orderly.