The Department of Social Welfare under the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly has cautioned the public against giving money to beggars wandering on the streets of the Metropolis.
According to the Department, the practice is indirectly encouraging people to continue to stand on the streets to make easy money.
The step is part of measures being considered by the Assembly to evacuate all street children and beggars from the various streets.
Speaking in an interview with Ultimate News’ Bayaga Fatawu, the Metropolitan Director of the Department of Social Welfare and community development Mrs. Apraku Esther Nyarko says the activity is now becoming a threat to society and therefore needs urgent attention.
She said “From now we shouldn’t also be giving out, they say Ghanaians are hospitable and generous because they usually give, let’s now stop and put our donations together come to social welfare we will direct it to the right people to get your true blessings instead of wasting it on the streets for business people.”
Mrs. Nyarko further indicates that begging is against the laws of the country hence the assembly will soon begin a massive evacuation exercise and people caught pushing children into the act or taking the unlawful activity as a business will be arrested and prosecuted.
She says the collaboration will be between the metropolitan assembly, the military, the police and the Immigration Service.
Mrs Nyarko adds that some of the factors contributing to begging include, disability, ignorance, cultural practices and among others.
She, therefore, admonishes parents and guardians to avoid releasing their children onto the streets to be used by others to make money as well as urged the adult beggars including persons with disability to begin looking for alternatives and stop straying on the streets.
Source: kasapafmonline
