The Ghana Immigration Service has launched a targeted operation in Kaneshie and Abossey Okai to remove street children and their guardians, many believed to be foreign nationals, from the streets of the capital.

The exercise, which began in the early hours of Friday, May 16, forms part of a broader national initiative to curb streetism, enforce immigration laws, and promote public safety.

Immigration officers, supported by operational vehicles, moved through busy intersections and sidewalks, engaging and removing individuals, mainly women and children, who were found begging in the area.

Authorities say the operation is aimed at identifying undocumented migrants, reducing congestion in urban centres, and addressing the exploitation of children in public spaces.

It also seeks to respond to growing public concern over the increasing number of street dwellers in the commercial zones of Accra.

This latest action follows an earlier warning issued on May 8 by Dr. Ernestina Tetteh, Convener of the Coalition for Street-Connected Children Organisation (CSCCO).

She raised alarm over the rise of child trafficking in Ghana, highlighting its increasingly organised nature and the involvement of children from neighbouring countries.

The Immigration Service has pledged to continue working with relevant agencies to ensure a humane but firm approach to the issue, while safeguarding the rights of vulnerable children and restoring order in urban areas.