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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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 operation seeks to repatriate undocumented foreign nationals humanely and disrupt criminal networks that facilitate their operations in places such as Sabon Zongo, Nima, Abossey Okai and Obetsebi Roundabout, among others.

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The GIS noted that the foreign nationals are currently being taken through the necessary processes including security and medical screening at the National Headquarters in Accra.

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The Service assured all stakeholders and the general public that "the detainees will be handled with the highest professionalism, with respect for their human rights."

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In a related development, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) is expected to remove traders selling on the streets and pavements in Accra on Tuesday, May 20.

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Before the exercise, vehicular movement in the area was at a standstill, as some traders sold their items in the middle of the streets, preventing pedestrians and vehicles from barely moving freely.

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Meanwhile, transport operators in Ghana have issued a stern warning to the government and the Ghana Police Service, demanding immediate enforcement of the Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2180), particularly those relating to trading on roads and pavements.

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They have given authorities until Monday, May 19, to act or face a nationwide protest. According to the operators, the growing encroachment of roads and pavements by traders poses serious safety risks and disrupts the free flow of traffic.

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Under Ghana’s Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2180), specific provisions prohibit trading activities that obstruct pedestrian and vehicular movement.

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These regulations are designed to ensure the safety and free flow of traffic on public roads and pavements.

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Under Regulation 117 of the Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2180), it is an offence for any person to engage in trading activities in certain areas that pose a risk to public safety or obstruct the smooth flow of traffic.

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According to the law, a person shall not sell goods, display goods, offer goods for sale, or deliver goods as part of a sale on or alongside a road. A person shall also not sell or display goods on a pedestrian walkway. In addition, a person is prohibited from selling, displaying, offering for sale, or delivering goods within thirty metres of a railway level crossing.

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The law further prohibits such activities under a road traffic sign that indicates a blind corner or a rise. It is also an offence to engage in these trading activities within an intersection. Lastly, the law forbids trading on or alongside any road, including areas around a toll booth and a toll plaza.

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Any person who violates the above restrictions commits an offence. Upon summary conviction, the person is liable to pay a fine not exceeding fifty penalty units or serve a term of imprisonment not exceeding three months, or both.

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This regulation is designed to safeguard the safety of all road users and ensure that trading activities do not interfere with traffic or endanger lives.

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