GENDER MINISTRY RAISES ALARM OVER GROWING CHILD HAWKING AND STREET HOMELESSNESS

The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection,  Hon. Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey has expressed deep concern over the increasing number of children engaged in hawking, living, and working on the streets across the country.

The Ministry clarified that, under Section 16(1) of the Children's Act, 1998 (Act 560), the primary responsibility for safeguarding the welfare and rights of children rests with Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs).

According to the law, MMDAs are mandated to protect the rights and welfare of children within their jurisdictions, coordinate the activities of relevant child protection agencies, and lead efforts to remove vulnerable children from street situations, including child hawking.

Despite this legal mandate, the Ministry continues to provide national policy direction, coordination, and advocacy on child protection issues. To strengthen interventions, it is working closely with key stakeholders, including the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development, the Ghana Police Service, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and both local and international development partners.

The collaborative efforts are aimed at enhancing the identification, rescue, rehabilitation, and reintegration of vulnerable children into safe and stable environments, while addressing the root causes of child streetism and exploitation.