The government is preparing to widen its crackdown on migrant begging by targeting individuals who provide accommodation to migrant beggars, Interior Minister Alhaji Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak has disclosed.
Under the proposed security policy, persons who knowingly shelter migrant beggars on their properties could face arrest as part of efforts to tackle irregular migration, protect the integrity of Ghana’s national identification system and prevent the trafficking of children for street begging.
The Interior Minister said the government was reviewing its security approach to address the growing presence of migrant beggars in communities and on major streets across the country.
Speaking at the 2026 National Mawlid Celebration in Accra, Alhaji Muntaka said some migrant beggars were being accommodated in communities and religious spaces, while children brought into the country for begging were sometimes placed under the care of unrelated adults.
“The beggars are everywhere on our streets. They live in our communities, and we give them shelter in our mosques. They come with children of others to beg, and this affects our reputation,” he said.
He warned that security agencies would no longer focus only on the migrant beggars themselves but would also investigate those providing them shelter.
“Henceforth, when we come for the migrant beggars, we will arrest you also for sheltering them. Don’t bother running to the Chief Imam to intervene,” he cautioned.
The Minister cited a recent operation by the Ghana Immigration Service, during which 1,055 migrant beggars were arrested, including 668 children below 15 years.
According to him, investigations showed that more than 400 of the children were not related to the adults accompanying them, raising concerns about child trafficking and exploitation.
Alhaji Muntaka also warned against the fraudulent acquisition of national identification and other official documents for foreign nationals.
He said individuals involved in facilitating such activities would be identified and prosecuted, stressing the importance of protecting the integrity of Ghana’s identification systems.
The Minister said the government’s approach was aimed at strengthening national security while addressing practices that could facilitate irregular migration, identity fraud and the exploitation of children.
He was speaking at the annual Mawlid celebration organised under the auspices of the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, on the theme, “Addressing the Rising Indiscipline in Ghanaian Society: The Role of Islam.”
Beyond security concerns, Alhaji Muntaka called on the Muslim community to use major religious gatherings such as the Mawlid to mobilise resources for development projects.
He also urged Muslim parents to give their children both secular and Islamic education to prepare them adequately for the future.
Touching on indiscipline in society, the Interior Minister called on religious leaders, politicians and traditional authorities to provide positive examples for young people.
“It is not what we say that they will work with. But what we do in private is what they will emulate,” he said.
