Director of Communications for the Bawumia 2024 campaign, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, has praised the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) and the Ministry of the Interior for their recent operation leading to the arrest and repatriation of undocumented migrants in Accra.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily on Wednesday, May 21, Aboagye urged the GIS to continue such efforts, describing them as critical to safeguarding national security and public order.
“The Immigration Service should keep up with this. For the district assemblies, before we can get there, we need to look at the structures first, because the assemblies do not have the capacity.
“So, it is about resources, structures, and ensuring these systems are in place first. Then the local government system can support. But for now, I do not think they can support that,” he said.
He also expressed concern about the rising number of street beggars and their possible involvement in criminal activities.
“A lot of these beggars on the street are involved in the crime that we are facing in the country. Kudos to the Immigration Service and the Interior Ministry,” Aboagye added.
His comments followed a GIS operation in Accra on Friday, May 16, 2025, which led to the arrest and repatriation of 925 undocumented migrants, most of whom were engaged in street begging. The repatriation began the following day, Saturday, May 17.
In a statement released on Monday, May 19, the GIS confirmed that 819 of the repatriated individuals were Nigerians and 106 were Nigeriens.
The operation has sparked calls for greater enforcement at the local level. Political analyst Michael Kosi Dedey also weighed in, emphasizing that while border control is essential, district assemblies must do more to manage public spaces.
“It is impossible to ensure 100% border security. The assemblies must ensure that people do not loiter on our streets and turn them into begging spots,” Dedey stated.