Beggar to businessman, cripple narrates his story

Begging for alms on the streets of the capital Accra and other parts of the country has become a norm for many both young and old.

As a lucrative venture, reports suggest that most of these beggars have made enough over time to put up properties, a car and even employ people they pay weekly to push them around to solicit for money from Ghanaians.

One can say genuinely some street beggars are really in dire need of assistant but others also with no reason but due to lazy or unemployment if one wants to be lenient beg for donations to survive for the day.

The influx of these beggars on the streets are creating an uncomfortable situation for commuters, especially the young beggars who drag people by the hand and hold on to their dresses just for them to give them one Ghana Cedi.

Some months back at Kwame Nkrumah Interchange in Accra a young beggar [man] identified by many to be there for some years now, with the same tactics of telling people he is from Madina but got his wallet missing and need assistant to go home, but on that said day was caught by a passerby who accused him of using the same tactics to collect money from him some other time.

An embarrassing scene for the young man as he barely could utter a word and left the scene in shame.

Reactions to the incident came in different folds some think it is due to unemployment while others attributed it to laziness.

On moral grounds, most of us turn to give freely to this beggars but would that be the appropriate thing to do for them in other to help them.

But the question which has always remain unanswered is what will force an individual to come to the street and beg for alms.

We all have varied opinions on the subject.

Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection Otiko Afisa Djaba in a radio interview appealed to Ghanaians to stop giving alms to these people on the street which she believes is motivating factor for them to always come to the streets to make a living.

The Minister said this act of begging has yielded results for most where some reportedly have bought cars and houses.

According to her, measures are in place to empower these individuals and with the help of the public by putting an end to offering them a kind hand they will be taken off the street.

The only disappointing part of her interview was that she was not able to mention the specific empowering policy put in place to help these street beggars.

Loitering she said is also against the law but they will sensitize the public before strict sanctions will be taken against the street beggars.

The ministry exists per law to contribute to the development of the nation by achieving gender equality and equity, facilitate the enforcement of the rights of children, and promote the integration and protection of the vulnerable, excluded and persons with disabilities in the development process through appropriate policies and strategies with adequate resources.

Street beggar turned businessman 

Kweku Sei a disabled street beggar turned a businessman told the news team that the issue of begging is not the one that an individual can be proud of but circumstances in life forced some of them to be on the street.

According the street beggar turned businessman, business has not been good these days but it’s appropriate to sell under this condition rather than beg for alms.

Narrating how he started his business of selling biscuits and chewing gum in the traffic at Adabraka in Accra, he said he use to beg for alms but realized it was not helpful so he decided to save 10 Ghana Cedi from the average amount of 20 Ghana Cedi he makes from the street.

Kweku Sei said after saving 200 Ghana Cedi he quit the begging business and started selling on the streets which he thinks was a good initiative because not everyday people will be able to offer him alms every day.

He bemoaned the attitude of some of his colleagues who also beg on the street but use the money for nothing and always return to the street for more.

Surprisingly, Kweku Sei was not aware of the government ministry expected to support people like him making it difficult for him to seek assistance.

He added the situation of him selling is much better, people don’t feel reluctant in giving him money because they feel he is doing something to help himself.

The norm of street begging can be stopped if the public desist from giving to those who have made it a business venture, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection must outline workable solutions to get the street beggars empowered to lift their burden off society.

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