The Ministry of Gender and Social Protection has asked the general public to assist the government’s efforts at “reducing child begging and streetism.” In a statement, the Ministry noted that various phases of measures will be employed to deal with the menace.
According to the Ministry of Gender and Social Protection, the Government of Ghana, in an understanding with the Embassy of Niger has repatriated 1,320 Nigeriens to their country. In a statement, the repatriation according to the government is to get beggars off the street.
“The Ministry has initiated some projects aimed at getting beggars off the street. These include “Operation get off the street and street-connected projects” respectively. Currently, the Government has also put together an Inter-Ministerial and Technical Committee to find a lasting solution to the menace”.
The first batch of 515 Nigeriens was repatriated on Tuesday, 7th June 2022, and the rest, on Wednesday, 8th June 2022 according to to the Ministry of Gender and Social Protection.
The exercise started on 5th June 2022 after officials in the Consulate of Niger in Ghana mobilized human and financial resources and other logistics to repatriate its nationals.
“The One Thousand Three Hundred and Twenty comprised of three hundred (300) adult males, four hundred (400) adult females and six hundred and twenty (620) children; out of which two hundred (200) are males and four hundred and twenty (420) are females”.
The returnees were found “under bridges, traffic lights intersections, street pavements, and other places begging for alms or loitering on the streets of Accra.”
