Former Assistant Secretary at the Presidency, Ibrahim Adjei, has advised foreign nationals to make use of the legal and appropriate channels to enter Ghana.During an interview on Channel One TV, Ibrahim Adjei noted that unauthorized entry into the country should attract immediate sanctions - an initiative he believes will serve as a deterrent.“When they come back and they are arrested and sent back immediately, eventually, they will get the message. No one is saying Nigerians or any other nationals cannot come to Ghana. But please, come legally, so you can enjoy the hospitality that we are known for,” he stated.His remark comes in reaction to the recent swoop undertaken by the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS).A total of 2,241 foreign nationals were removed from the principal streets of Accra by the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) after an intelligence-led operation on Friday, 16th May.

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Nine hundred and nine (909) adults and 1,322 children were taken from the streets. Out of the total, 961 were males and 1,280 were females, according to the GIS in a statement.

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The initiative was aimed at decongesting the streets as well as curbing child exploitation as part of the Mahama-led administration's agenda to improve urban mobility. The victims, who usually solicit for alms and are believed to be foreign nationals, were packed in immigration vehicles. The editor of Newscenta Newspaper, Elvis Darko, has cast doubt on the lasting impact of the recent decongesting exercise.According to him, the 2,000 foreign beggars who were removed from the streets of Accra will return to their spots in three months.“If the Immigration Service carries these people out of the country, I give you three months they will be back. The borders are porous. Nothing strategic is being done to properly secure them,” he warned.He mentioned the unofficial entry points that individuals target to Ghana and the lack of a strategic approach governing the country's borders.“The issue should be focused on the state of Ghana’s borders. How do people enter this country without documentation? What do we need to do to fix our borders to ensure people enter rightfully?” he queried.Meanwhile, the Minister for Interior, Muntaka Mubarak, has revealed that the exercise to rid the streets of foreign nationals will soon be extended to other regions beyond Accra.

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“I have seen the public reactions and calls for similar actions in places like Kumasi, Tamale, and other communities. Please be assured that this is a nationwide exercise that began in Accra and will be extended to other regions soon.”

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The minister has urged all Ghanaians to remain calm and support this exercise.

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"Let us cooperate with the security teams as they work to protect our streets and uphold national safety," he wrote in a Facebook post.

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