Dear Colleagues,
Child streetism, also known as the "street children phenomenon," has been a persistent issue in Ghana for as long as I can remember. This typically involves children leaving their homes, living and working on the streets without the company of their parents. In the past, their numbers were relatively few and concentrated in major cities. Over the past three years however, there has been a significant increase in the number of children roaming the streets of cities and towns across Ghana. This upsurge can be linked to the influx of migrants from the Sahel regions north of Ghana, who are fleeing conflicts and hunger. These migrants usually enter the country through its northern borders, often via unapproved routes. It is also possible that some of these people are trafficked into the country. As a result, the numbers are particularly high in northern cities such as Tamale, although a significant number can also be found in southern areas such as Kumasi and Accra.
These children are often seen accompanied by adults, who may be their parents, roaming around traffic lights, shopping malls, bus stations, and markets. The adults typically sit while sending the children to beg for alms from commuters. This begging usually occurs at traffic lights when vehicles stop. Another modus operandi involves the children persistently approaching pedestrians, holding onto their arms and clothing, and demanding money. The collected funds are then handed over to their parents.
The rights of these children are being violated on many levels. They are exploited, primarily by their own parents, who see them to make ends meet. As innocent children, they are exposed to the dangers and harms of living on the street. This situation also has security implications, as these children are further exploited by criminals and may engage in criminal activities to survive, or risk being trafficked.
There is an urgent need to intervene in this developing issue. It seems the interventions from the social work department and other concerned public agencies in Ghana to address this issue have been minimal, perhaps due to limited resources and the overwhelming scale of the problem. This is an evolving problem that could have long-term implications for
Ghana and other African nations.
I am interested in hearing your experiences and perspectives on this issue.
How is the situation in your countries, and what interventions are being implemented to tackle the problem? Additionally, what can your organization do to help address this issue in countries like Ghana that are struggling to confront the problem head-on? I believe that a multifaceted solution targeting the root, stem, and branches of the problem may be necessary.
I am looking forward to your input and ideas. Thank you
Edem
Lead Moderator
CHIFA profile
Daniel Edem Kpewou is a lecturer at the School of Allied Health Sciences, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana. He is the Lead Moderator for the CHIFA forum.
https://www.hifa.org/support/members/daniel-edem