Child Begging: A Future At Risk

Child begging has become an alarming issue in Ghana’s urban areas, representing not only a moral dilemma but also a national crisis. What began as acts of compassion toward those in need has evolved into a disturbing cycle of child exploitation, undermining both human dignity and national development.

As a Christian raised in a Muslim-dominated community, I appreciate the teachings of both the Bible and the Qur’an regarding almsgiving. Both scriptures promote generosity, compassion, and sincerity, emphasizing that true charity uplifts the poor rather than exploits them.

Regrettably, the reality we observe on our streets today distorts this sacred principle. In areas such as the iconic Kwame Nkrumah Circle, Abeka Lapaz, Osu Oxford Street, and other parts of Accra, child begging has become alarmingly prevalent. Children, some as young as two years old, roam the streets, pleading for coins from pedestrians and motorists.

Behind these innocent faces often stand adults both foreign nationals and sometimes Ghanaian parents, who send their children to beg while they watch from nearby, collecting the proceeds at the end of the day.

This is not charity; it is child exploitation and a direct violation of human rights. It robs children of their dignity, education, and safety. These children face physical harm, emotional distress, and exposure to various forms of abuse, including physical and sexual violence.

Beyond the moral decay, child begging has severe national implications. It fuels illiteracy, perpetuates poverty, increases dependency, and breeds criminality. Every child denied an education today represents a lost potential for tomorrow. Ghana cannot progress while its children grow up on the streets instead of in classrooms.

Fortunately, Ghana’s legal framework strongly condemns this practice:

The Children’s Act, 1998 (Act 560) prohibits exploitative child labor, including any act that interferes with a child’s education or endangers their well-being (Section 87).

The Human Trafficking Act, 2005 (Act 694) defines the use of children for begging or forced labor as a criminal offense.

Ghana is also a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC), both of which mandate the protection of children from economic and social exploitation.

These laws are clear; what is lacking is consistent enforcement and public awareness.

This situation demands urgent intervention. Government agencies, faith-based organizations, NGOs, and community leaders must collaborate to enforce existing laws, provide social support to vulnerable families, and conduct nationwide sensitization campaigns.

As believers, whether Christian, Muslim, or followers of traditional faiths, we must return to the true spirit of almsgiving, one rooted in love, dignity, and empowerment. True charity uplifts; it never exploits.

Every child deserves protection, education, and the chance to dream. The future of Ghana depends on how we safeguard the most vulnerable among us. We must not assume we are free because those children on the street are not our own; but local wisdom says “before the rain falls, the wind blows.”

Let us act now, for the children on our streets today represent the nation we will become tomorrow.

 

By Sattey Yaw Stephen – Writer, Student Leader, Public Servant, and Child Rights Advocate.

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