Beggars Are Not a Nuisance But a Threat to National Security - Muntaka

Tamale, Northern Region - 22 May, 2025 - Ghana's Interior Minister, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, has pledged to intensify efforts to rid major cities of beggars and street dwellers, citing national security concerns.

During a visit to the Northern Region, Muntaka revealed plans for a nationwide operation targeting five cities, including Tamale, in partnership with security agencies.

The minister pointed to a recent operation in Accra, where over 2,000 foreign nationals were arrested for begging, with almost half already repatriated.

He warned that those remaining would be processed for removal by week's end. Muntaka also cautioned streetwalkers, stating that they would face forced repatriation if they didn't vacate the streets voluntarily.

“The beggars are not a nuisance but a threat to our national security. By the close of this week, we should be able to finish removing all of them. I can assure the rest of them that they either return to where they are coming from, because very soon, we are coming after all of them, including the prostitutes who are parading on almost all our streets. We will not rest on our oars, we will go after them until we remove all of them,” he warned while speaking at the commissioning of a four-storey, 24-unit apartment block constructed by the State Housing Company for the Ghana Immigration Service in Tamale on May 22. 

Source: Lead News Online