- Special operation conducted in Kaneshie and Abossey Okai on May 16, 2025
- Targeted removal of street children and guardians, many suspected to be foreign nationals
- Response to rising concerns about foreign minors involved in streetism
The Ghana Immigration Service has launched a targeted operation in the Kaneshie and Abossey Okai areas to remove street children and their guardians—many suspected to be foreign nationals—from the streets of Accra.
Conducted in the early hours of Friday, May 16, 2025, the operation involved immigration officers and forms part of a larger campaign to address the increasing number of non-Ghanaian street dwellers, particularly minors, in the capital’s busy commercial zones.
During the exercise, immigration vehicles picked up several women and children believed to be foreign nationals. Officers interacted with individuals before escorting them away from sidewalks and intersections where they regularly solicit money from drivers and pedestrians.
Authorities say the operation is part of a broader national strategy aimed at reducing congestion on city streets, improving public safety, and combating child exploitation. It also seeks to identify undocumented migrants and enforce immigration laws.
The move comes in response to concerns recently expressed by Dr. Ernestina Tetteh, Convener of the Coalition for Street-Connected Children Organisation (CSCCO), who on May 8, 2025, highlighted the growing and increasingly organised presence of street-connected children in Ghana, especially those from neighboring countries.
