The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, has outlined government interventions to address the rising incidence of child hawking and street children across Ghana.
Responding to questions in Parliament, the Minister, who also represents the Krowor Constituency, expressed deep concern over the growing number of children living and working on the streets.
“As the lead coordinating institution for the welfare of children in Ghana, my Ministry is very concerned about this issue,” Dr Lartey told the House.
She reminded Parliament that under Section 16(1) of the Children’s Act, 1998, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) are legally mandated to remove children from street situations to ensure their protection and welfare.
To achieve this, the Ministry is coordinating with MMDAs, the Department of Social Welfare, the Ghana Police Service, civil society organisations, and development partners to rescue, rehabilitate, and reintegrate vulnerable children.
To tackle the root causes pushing children into street labour, the government is strengthening poverty alleviation programmes.
These include the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) initiative and the Ghana School Feeding Programme, which aim to reduce household vulnerability.
The Ministry is also intensifying public education campaigns on the dangers of child hawking and exploitation.
“We are raising awareness on the harmful effects of child labour and promoting the importance of education and child protection,” Dr Lartey added.
This ministerial briefing follows renewed public anxiety and calls from child rights advocates for stronger law enforcement, as children are increasingly seen selling at major urban intersections during school hours and late into the night.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana