PAG Presidential Nominee Criticises Planned Deportation of Migrant Beggars

John Enyonam Kpikpi, the Progressive Alliance for Ghana’s 2028 presidential nominee, has rejected plans to deport more than 1,000 migrant street beggars detained by the Ghana Immigration Service. He said Ghana should show compassion rather than repeat what he called xenophobic actions elsewhere in Africa.

“This is sounding like a South African replay. We should set an example for the rest of Africa by taking these vulnerable people on and caring for them. Africa is all one. No deportations!” Kpikpi wrote in a social-media post.

The Immigration Service detained 1,055 people in an intelligence-led operation in the Greater Accra and Ashanti regions. Those rescued included 662 children, 145 men and 248 women. The operation focused on networks allegedly using begging to traffic and exploit vulnerable foreign nationals, particularly women and children. Several Ghanaians were also detained on suspicion of acting as local agents for the networks.

The operation covered areas including Abossey Okai, Sabon Zongo, Madina, Ashaiman and Tema in Greater Accra, and Asawase, Alabar, Akwatia Line, Dagomba Line, Sabon Zongo, Airport Junction and Aboabo in Kumasi. The large number of minors rescued raised concerns within the service about child trafficking for forced begging on Ghanaian streets.

One detained Nigerien woman reported feeling unwell during the operation. Medical staff found that she was in labour and transferred her to a nearby facility, where she delivered a baby girl. She remains under observation.

The Immigration Service said all rescued people had been moved to a designated holding centre for profiling and immigration processing. It said it was working with the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection to provide victims, especially children, with care, protection and support throughout the removal process. Kpikpi urged Ghana to offer shelter and assistance while addressing poverty and displacement across the region.

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This is sounding like a South African replay. We should set an example for the rest of Africa by taking these vulnerable people on and caring for them. Africa is all one. No deportations!