Stop Giving Alms To Beggars – Otiko Djaba

Otiko Djaba, the Gender and Social Protection Minister, is appealing to Ghanaians. She says they should stop giving money to beggars on the street.

According to her, it is a bad practice which must end. Therefore, those who do this are encouraging them.

The Ministry is rolling out efforts to help empower such people to be able to take care of themselves.

However, she urged Ghanaians to end this practice by ceasing from giving such people alms.

Otiko Djaba’s Statement

“It is demand and supply, as some of the people contract some of the children to be pushing them and preventing them from being in school.

“Some of them own kiosks, have houses and taxis working for them and have taken it as a profession and it cannot be a profession.”

Some principal streets of Accra are constantly inundated with beggars including children.

These children have invaded the streets of Accra, begging for alms to feed themselves and their families.

They are mostly around busy or populated areas in the capital and in traffic.

Some children even pretend to be sick. They prey on the emotions of unsuspecting members of the public in order to get their daily bread.

‘Some have taken it as a profession’, Otiko Djaba

Begging has become an issue with most people. They are worried about the safety of children. Also, they ask why there are many beggars on Accra streets.

However, the Minister said by the laws of the land loitering is a crime. Therefore, in the coming days all the stakeholders will be engaged to stop the practice.

“There will be one-on-one engagements. We will be going to their hotspots and working with them to come to an understanding with them; they deserve better after 60 years of independence.”