The Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, has issued a bold declaration to rid Ghana’s streets of beggars and prostitutes, calling them a threat to national security and public order.
During a visit to Tamale on Thursday, May 22, the Asawase MP revealed that a nationwide operation will soon be rolled out in collaboration with the security services. The crackdown will target five key cities, starting with Tamale as part of a broader effort to “restore decency and discipline” to urban areas.
“We will not rest until all the beggars and prostitutes are cleared off our streets,” Muntaka said at the commissioning of a newly built 24-unit apartment block for the Ghana Immigration Service. “They either return to where they came from or we will remove them ourselves.”
The Minister confirmed that a recent operation in Accra led to the arrest of more than 2,000 foreign beggars, with nearly half already repatriated. The remainder are expected to be processed and deported by the end of the week.
But Muntaka’s message extended beyond beggars. Prostitutes operating openly across city streets were also put on notice. “We’re coming after all of them. This is a national cleanup, and it’s long overdue,” he warned.
As the operation gears up, all eyes are on the Interior Ministry to see how this tough stance will unfold—and whether it will bring lasting change to Ghana’s urban landscape or spark deeper debate on how society treats its most vulnerable.
