Investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, has released a documentary on the increasing numbers of child trafficking in Ghana.
The feature project, christened “Chained by Begging” is a collaboration between Anas and OAfrica, a child support organisation.
The documentary exposes the phenomenon of how child begging is more than just children asking for money on the streets but how children are trafficked by adults and used for business purposes.
In “Chained by Begging”, Anas Aremeyaw Anas demonstrates that the recent increase in child beggars can in some cases be linked to cross-border
child trafficking.
READ ALSO: 9-yr-old defiled by her teacher struggling to walk
According to the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child and section 87 (1-2) of the Children’s Act, 1998 (Act 560), child begging is child abuse and also prohibited by law.
It is considered as separation from family and exploitative child labour.
A statement released by OAfrica on the documentary said child begging is one of the worst forms of child labour which keeps children out of school.
It also separates children from their families while exposing them to hazardous living conditions and dangers such as rape, ill health and motor
accidents, it added.
“In seeking a holistic approach to dealing with this complex trans-border situation, we will need to involve Immigration, Social Welfare, the various Ministries and Embassies and the public. The public are urged to report all children on the street and to stop giving to child beggars. We call for police and law enforcement agencies to arrest the traffickers,” it added.
“Giving child beggars money does not help the children because the money goes to their “masters” and does not serve the wellbeing of these vulnerable and innocent children. In fact, it only makes the industry bigger with more street hildren and more attractive and lucrative for traffickers. If we want to STOP child begging in Ghana then we have to STOP giving money to the children on the street. This will help prevent additional children being recruited as child beggars.
READ ALSO: FREE SHS: Education Ministry responds to GNAT over extension of reopening date
With funding support from the European Union, OAfrica in collaboration with Tiger Eye PI and The Livingstone Foundation calls on us all to help stop child begging.
Below is a copy of the full statement released by OAfrica:
In “Chained by Begging”: Anas exposes an international child trafficking ring With the release of “Chained by Begging”, Anas Aremeyaw Anas has demonstrated that the recent increase in child beggars can in some cases be linked to cross-border child trafficking.
According to the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child and section 87 (1-2) of the Children’s Act, 1998 (Act 560) child begging is child abuse and also prohibited by law in Ghana, as is trafficking, separation from family and exploitative child labour.
Child begging is one of the worst forms of child labour which keeps children out of school.
It also separates children from their families while exposing them to hazardous living conditions and dangers such as rape, ill health and motor
accidents.
In seeking a holistic approach to dealing with this complex trans-border situation we will need to involve Immigration, Social Welfare, the various Ministries and Embassies and the public. The public are urged to report all children on the street and to stop giving to child beggars. We call for police and law enforcement agencies to arrest the traffickers.
Giving child beggars money does not help the children because the money goes to their “masters” and does not serve the wellbeing of these vulnerable and innocent children. In fact, it only makes the industry bigger with more street children and more attractive and lucrative for traffickers. If we want to STOP child begging in Ghana then we have to STOP giving money to the children on the street.
This will help prevent additional children being recruited as child beggars.
MORE: Audio: Security analyst wants Asiedu Nketia arrested over ‘treasonable’ comment
With funding support from the European Union, OAfrica in collaboration with Tiger Eye PI and The Livingstone Foundation calls on us all to help stop child begging.
We are urging the public to be committed to the #KidsOutFuture “3Rs”:
• React: to children begging on the street. It is a worrying situation to see innocent children on the streets begging. It is an abuse of the child so please do not ignore it.
• Record: by taking a photo or make a note of the location at which you saw the child begging taking place.
• Report: to the nearest policeman or police station the incidence. You can follow up on your reported cases to ensure has been attended to.
Whom do I report child beggars to? DDOVSU, AMA, TRAFFIC POLICE or DSW