Eric Sosu, Chief Executive Officer of Belarusian Travel and Tour, has lauded the Ghana Immigration Service for initiating an operation aimed at eradicating child beggars and their guardians from the streets.
The service has apprehended 2,241 foreign nationals in a targeted crackdown on organised street begging in the Greater Accra Region.
The exercise, which commenced on Friday, May 15, 2025, and continued into the early hours of Saturday is reported to have covered areas such as Circle, Okaishie, and Kaneshie.
According to Mr. Sosu, the operation, though overdue, marks a significant step in the right direction.
He emphasised that the activities of these beggars deter tourists, as they often harass foreigners visiting Ghana’s tourist sites, projecting a negative image of Ghanaians.
Speaking on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, Mr. Sosu stressed the necessity for the operation to be sustained and expanded to other regions.
“We commend the Ghana Immigration Service for their proactive initiative. Tourism and beauty are intertwined, and cleanliness plays a crucial role in attracting tourists. When visitors encounter an unclean environment, it discourages repeat visits and recommendations. The alarming rate at which foreign beggars harass tourists, often utilising minors as young as two years old, is detrimental to our tourism industry.
Some even resort to begging at the airport, coupled with indiscriminate waste disposal. Therefore, we encourage the Immigration Service to maintain this exercise.”
Mr. Sosu urged Ghanaians to support the Immigration Service in this exercise rather than criticising them unfairly.
“Let’s acknowledge their efforts and refrain from accusations that they are driving away foreigners. The actions of these foreign beggars undermine our efforts to maintain clean streets and a tidy country. While we are not discouraging begging entirely, street begging, particularly on major thoroughfares, is a nuisance that needs to be addressed.”
He reiterated that the government remains committed to developing the tourism sector, but getting the fundamentals right is crucial for generating increased revenue from tourism.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
