The Minister for Gender, Children, and Social Protection, Lariba Zuweira Abudu, has appealed to the people of Ghana not to give money to child beggars on the streets. She expressed concern that giving money to these children only perpetuates the problem by encouraging them to remain on the streets.
During a press conference on June 4, 2023, the Minister highlighted that some children even skip school or leave their homes to beg to increase their income. She questioned the practice of giving money to school-age children, emphasizing the need to break the cycle. “If a six-year-old child is begging, why do we give them money?” she asked.
Madam Lariba Zuweira Abudu emphasized that if Ghanaians collectively stopped giving money to these children, it would discourage them from loitering on the streets. She attributed their presence on the streets to the cultural norms surrounding how people give to minors.
Addressing foreigners loitering on Ghana’s streets, the Minister stated her ministry is working in collaboration with the embassies of the respective nations to facilitate their return. However, logistical challenges faced by some embassies have hindered the repatriation process for some of their nationals. She revealed that while some foreigners returned to Ghana voluntarily, around 400 had to be deported.
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Source: Omanghana.com