The Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Lariba Zuweira Abudu, has called upon the public, particularly residents of urban areas, to desist from giving cash to child beggars on the streets.
The minister believes that the growing trend could be minimized if the public desist from giving them alms.
During a recent press briefing held in Accra, Ms. Abudu highlighted the pressing issue and provided updates on the ministry’s ongoing programs. Despite the government’s persistent efforts to eradicate child begging, the numbers have continued to escalate, posing a grave concern for the nation.
“Many of these child beggars are either trafficked into the country or coerced into the degrading activity by their guardians, with a majority being foreigners”, she said.
She further disclosed that the government has successfully repatriated around 400 foreign child beggars not too long ago. Therefore, it is very worrying to note that many more had resurfaced on the streets only a few months after.
“We have done a lot to take them from the streets but somehow they find themselves back, we even repatriated 400 of them and engaged the embassies here but they find ways to come back so we have to stop giving money to minors on the streets because as adults I don’t see why we should be giving monies to six year olds on the streets” Ms Abudu said.
She said the government did not have the resources to repatriate the child beggars presently on the streets but would encourage the public to shun them and desist from giving them cash to help force them out of the streets.
“If you don’t give them today and I don’t give them tomorrow, next week they will be forced to leave the streets and move away,” the minister added.
