The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP), in collaboration with the Department of Social Welfare and Cherish a Child Foundation, has joined the global community to mark the International Day for Street Children with a renewed call to protect, rather than criminalise, vulnerable children.
The event, held under the theme “Protect, Not Punish,” highlighted the urgent need to shift societal and institutional responses toward street-connected children from condemnation to care, inclusion, and support.
Delivering an address on behalf of the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, the Director of the Department of Social Welfare, Prince Boamah Abrah, stressed that street children remain among the most vulnerable groups in society.
He noted that many children are pushed onto the streets due to poverty, neglect, abuse, and limited access to essential social services, urging a shift in perspective from criminalising vulnerability to protecting dignity.
According to him, the government continues to address the root causes through social intervention programmes such as the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) initiative and the School Feeding Programme, which support vulnerable households and help reduce the pressures that drive children onto the streets.
He called on the public to prioritise compassion over indifference, stressing that protecting children is key to restoring hope and securing their future.
Also speaking at the event on behalf of the Chief Director of MoGCSP, Marian W. A. Kpakpah, Principal Programmes Officer at the Department of Children, Angela Kangah, stated that justice should be about creating systems that listen to children and respond to their needs.
“In doing so, we are choosing to invest in a brighter future for the entire country,” she noted.
The Chief Executive Officer of Cherish a Child Foundation, Salome Delali, reinforced the message, stating that street children are not criminals but victims of circumstance who require protection and support to rebuild their lives.
She called for stronger collaboration among institutions to effectively remove children from the streets and provide them with opportunities for reintegration.
A highlight of the event was a testimony from a street-connected child, Nicholas Mawunyo, who shared his daily struggles and aspirations, reinforcing the need for society to see street children as individuals deserving care and opportunity.
The commemoration ended with a collective call for stakeholders to intensify efforts toward protecting vulnerable children and ensuring that no child is left behind.
