By Eugenia Serwaa Acheampong
Streetism is a rising social concern as more and more minors and youth take to the streets on a daily struggle to survive. The phenomenon mirrors the increasing number of children who are unable to access their rights to education, safety, quality healthcare and right to a decent standard of living. The term ‘streetism’ is used to describe children who live and work on the streets. Unfortunately, this is the result of a surge in urbanization and many difficult socio-economic challenges rural families are experiencing.
In April 2021, the Director of Operations Commander, ACP Kwesi Ofori, announced that the Police would embark on a series of operations to clear all streets off beggars who were believed to be nationalists of Chad, Mali, Niger among others. However, the operation seems to have proved futile since these children can be seen parading on the streets accompanied by their parents begging for alms, exposing them to all forms of danger.
At the Circle overhead bridge, street children can be seen sitting on the bare floor with their guardians. These beggars have extended their begging activities to the traffic light intersection at Paloma, the Abossey Okai Mosque and the Liberation Road where they have littered indiscriminately. A concerned Citizen, Mr. Kwame Appiah says ”city authorities should sit up”.
The United Nations identifies street children based on the absence of adult supervision. It also defines street children as “children for whom the street more than their family has become their real home, a situation in which there is no protection, supervision or direction from a responsible adult”. It’s quite alarming to watch these children run around with no caution, at the risk of being knocked down by moving vehicles. A night drive through Accra reveals how these children, after a tough day of seeking to make ends meet, sleep on street pavements, in front of stores or anywhere they deem safe.
These children also stand the risk of being recruited into dangerous vices such as armed robbery, prostitution among others.
Child Rights Activists say the government, Social Welfare Authorities, Philanthropists and other individual bodies that work for the welfare of street children should coordinate their activities by pooling resources together to address the challenges faced by children who live on the streets.
Read more: Street Children
