Madam Dakoa Newman, Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, has unveiled a comprehensive five-year Strategic Plan designed to transform and empower street-connected children and young persons across Ghana through a holistic rehabilitation approach.
The plan aims to tackle the diverse challenges faced by these children and young individuals nationwide. Speaking at the launch, Madam Newman emphasized the importance of cross-sector collaboration to ensure families take responsibility for their children and strengthen family relationships.
“At the heart of this plan and other government efforts is the expectation that street-connected children and young persons should enjoy the same rights as any child in Ghana, free from discrimination and with a sense of belonging, respect, love, acceptance, and understanding of their responsibilities,” she stated.
The strategic plan will serve as a guide for stakeholders to effectively implement initiatives and raise public awareness about the issues facing street-connected children and young persons.
Madam Newman highlighted a 2011 survey by the Department of Social Welfare in Accra, which identified approximately 61,492 individuals under 18 engaged in street work, with 65 percent migrating from rural to urban areas.
In 2015 and 2017, the Ministry launched initiatives like “Operation Go Back to School” and “Operation Get Off the Streets for a Better Life.” A 2017 check revealed that 4,853 street persons were identified, with 4,165 eligible for formal education, though fewer than 200 were reunited with their families and enrolled in school. The exercise also identified 46 Nigerien street beggars, including 20 adults and 26 children, who were repatriated in 2017.
In April 2021, the Ministry of National Security identified 94 hotspots across 29 Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies, counting 2,257 children and families on the streets, many of whom were of foreign descent.
“In October 2021, three local non-profit organizations—Chance for Children, Safe-Child Advocacy, and Muslim Family Counselling Services—revealed that among 6,693 street-connected children and young persons in Kumasi’s Central Business District, 50.6 percent were not engaged in economic activity, 24.5 percent were involved in casual work, 10.9 percent were begging for alms, and others were engaged in small businesses,” Madam Newman noted. “Additionally, 158 female street-connected children were found to be involved in commercial sex work.”
On June 7, 2022, the Embassy of Niger, in collaboration with the Ghana Immigration Service and other stakeholders, repatriated 1,320 Nigeriens to their home country.
The Minister expressed gratitude to Catholic Relief Services for financial support and acknowledged the invaluable technical assistance from organizations focused on street-connected children. She called on civil society, corporate bodies, development partners, and other stakeholders to support the plan’s coordination and implementation.
Reverend Dr. Comfort Asare, Director of the Department of Social Welfare, remarked that children and young persons living or working on the streets often beg for alms with adults, worsening their situation. She emphasized that the strategic plan envisions essential services for all street-connected children, helping them grow in safe environments to realize their full potential.
Dr. Ernestina Korleki Tetteh, Convener of the Coalition for Street-Connected Children, praised the Ministry and the Department of Social Welfare for their dedication, noting that developing the plan involved researchers, NGOs, and government commitment.
“We are pleased to reach this milestone and commend the Ministry for their commitment to this cause,” Dr. Tetteh added.
Source: GNA
