Bright Kweku Appiah presenting the CRI report on streetism
Child Right International (CRI) has called on the government and children’s rights institutions to act with urgency to curb the rise in streetism in Ghana.
A CRI observation report has indicated that there are at least 7 children at every traffic light either begging for alms, assisting the elderly or disabled to beg for alms or engaged in some form of trading during school hours.
As part of its mandate to ensure that the rights of all children are safeguarded, CRI has instituted what it terms Child Protection Accountability Series (CPAS) to ensure that child protection issues are addressed quickly and appropriately.
Bright Kweku Appiah, Executive Director, Child Rights International, said streetism has become the most widespread child protection issue in cities across the country.
“It is important for all concerned ministries such as the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection; the Ministry of Interior; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration and the Ministry of Education to put forces together to address this menace,” Mr Appiah noted.
“ CRI recommends that the appropriate ministries take action to return non-Ghanaian children that beg on the streets back to their countries of origin by engaging the embassies to facilitate their safe repatriation,” he added.
Adding to that, Mr Bright Appiah said Ghana may also decide to recognize these foreign children under its social safety net in order for them to access rights as any Ghanaian child within the country’s social protection system.
“In this regard, we ask that the government and the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection rise to this call and strengthen the social support systems in order to get these children off the streets and reintegrate them into families,” he said.
By Abigail Owiredu-Boateng