AMA begins exercise to rid Accra of street children, beggars

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), has commenced an exercise to rid Ghana’s capital city, Accra, of beggars and street children.

The exercise which began on Friday May 25, is in collaboration with La Dadekopton Municipal Assembly (LADMA).

A statement signed by the Head of Public Affairs at the AMA, Gilbert Nii Ankrah, said the AMA picked up 200 persons including children believed to be from Niger and Nigeria from some ceremonial routes, streets, under bridges, and in traffic, begging for alms from benevolent individual.

BELOW IS THE FULL STATEMENT BY THE AMA

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) wishes to inform the general public that it has begun a special exercise to rid the city of street children and beggars. 

The exercise is in collaboration with La Dadekopton Municipal Assembly (LADMA). 

The exercise which began on Friday 25 May 2018, identified and picked up 200 persons including children believed to be from Niger and Nigeria from some ceremonial routes, streets, under bridges, and in traffic, begging for alms from benevolent individuals.

Areas covered include Mövenpick Hotel, Trade Union Congress (TUC), Cathedral, 37 Military Hospital, Airport City, Airport Junction and Accra Mall, Spanner junction traffic light, and the Ghana Standards Board (Shiashie). 

The Assembly therefore wishes to assure the public that, it is working in close collaboration with the Department of Social Welfare towards the reformation and reintegration of these persons into society. 

Other areas in the capital to be visited are, Kaneshie overhead bridge, Nima and Maamobi, and at traffic intersections at Sunny FM, Okponglo [Ghana Standards Authority (GSA)] and Graphic Road stretch, the footbridges at the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange, as well as popular bus terminals like the Neoplan Bus Stop at Achimota, Circle, Kaneshie and the Korle- bu traffic light. 

The Assembly is therefore urging the public to cooperate and desist from giving money to beggars on the streets as they will be violating the Beggars and Destitute Act, 1969 (PNDCL 392) which criminalizes the act of begging and giving to beggars. 

SIGNED. 
Gilbert Nii Ankrah 
HEAD OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS 
FOR: METRO CHIEF EXECUTIVE

GBCONLINE
---DECRYPTED---