Child Rights International (CRI) has condemned the recent mass street raids and evictions conducted by the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), describing the operation as a “chaotic and harmful exercise” that violated fundamental child protection protocols.
The operation took place on May 16, 2025, in busy areas of Accra, including Kaneshie, Abossey Okai, and Kwame Nkrumah Circle, resulting in the arrest and eviction of over 2,000 individuals. Alarmingly, CRI estimates that at least 60% of those apprehended were children, many of whom are foreign nationals.
In a press release, CRI Executive Director Bright Kweku Appiah criticized the actions of the immigration officers, asserting that they disregarded Ghana’s legal and moral obligations under both national and international child protection laws.
“These children are not criminals. They are victims of systemic neglect, poverty, and cross-border vulnerabilities. To treat them as immigration offenders is not only unjust—it is unlawful,” Appiah stated.
Ghana Immigration raids
CRI also criticized GIS for proceeding without the involvement of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, and for lacking any visible plan to care for the children after their evacuation.
“There was no coordination, no reintegration roadmap, and no child-specific protocols. This operation lacked even the most basic safeguards,” the statement concluded.
The child advocacy organization also warned that such unilateral operations may create diplomatic friction, particularly with the countries of origin of the affected children, and called attention to Ghana’s porous borders that continue to allow undocumented minors into the country without scrutiny.
Calling the situation a ‘national emergency,’ CRI urged the government to shift from reactive policing to a sustainable, rights-based response.
It proposed the immediate implementation of the following:
- Comprehensive biometric and background data collection
- Bilateral engagement with countries of origin for repatriation and child welfare
- Strengthening of border surveillance and monitoring
- Creation of structured child reintegration and support frameworks
“Leaving children to fend for themselves on the streets is more than a social failure—it is a betrayal of our shared humanity. Ghana must act decisively to protect its most vulnerable,” Appiah added.
CRI appealed to civil society, development partners, and government stakeholders to join forces in ensuring that future interventions prioritize child safety and dignity over optics and numbers.