Poverty should not be used to justify immigrant arrests — Social worker
By: Solomon Nartey Tetteh
Social worker Gloria Naa Ayerley Tettey has urged the Ghana Immigration Service to avoid using poverty as a reason to arrest immigrants, calling instead for thorough investigations before enforcement actions.
Her comments come in response to a recent crackdown targeting undocumented immigrants, particularly those found begging on the streets of Accra.
Speaking on Zed FM’s Business Breakfast, Ms. Naa Tettey emphasized that poverty or homelessness should not automatically label someone a criminal. She called for a more humane, evidence-based approach to immigration enforcement.
“It is not right to use arrests simply to clear people from the streets. They have the right to live. The Immigration Service should provide clear information if these individuals entered the country without documentation,” she said.
Ms. Naa Tettey stressed the need to distinguish between immigration status and socio-economic hardship, arguing that poverty alone should never justify depriving individuals of their fundamental rights.
She also questioned how undocumented immigrants were able to enter the country undetected, urging greater transparency and accountability from immigration authorities.
“The Immigration Service should explain how these immigrants were allowed into the country without proper documentation,” she added.
Warning of potential social tensions, Ms. Naa Tettey called on the government to act carefully to preserve community cohesion.
“Measures should be put in place to prevent social division,” she said.
Highlighting conflict and war as key drivers of migration across Africa, she urged African leaders to focus on economic development and social stability to reduce forced migration. Her remarks contribute to the ongoing public debate on balancing immigration management with human rights and national security concerns.
