Experiences from the Street

Street Children: Experiences from the Streets of Accra

Agya Boakye-Boaten

Assistant Professor of University Studies, North Carolina A & T State University

Greensboro, NC, 1611 Candace, Ridge Drive, Greensboro, NC 27406

Abstract

The phenomenon of street children is a growing concern in many developing states,

particularly in Africa. Ghana is no exception to the general trend of children fending for

themselves on the streets. However, very little is known about this unique population in

Ghana. This study provides a general overview of the phenomenon of street children in

Ghana. This article particularly examines the experiences of street children in Ghana, how

they ended up in the streets, how they survive in the streets, and abuses they suffer from

being in the streets. This is a qualitative study, which uses interviewing as the primary data

collection tool. The data is analyzed by using a phenomenological frame work, where the

final result is a description of the phenomenon, as seen through the eyes of people who

have experienced it firsthand.

Introduction

The problem of street children is a worldwide phenomenon. Many capitals and urban centers of the

world have become a haven of survival for many children in distress. For instance, LeRoux & Smith

(1998) indicate that;

The street children phenomenon is an alarming and escalating worldwide problem.

Street children are maltreated, imprisoned, and in some countries killed . . . The

phenomenon of street children, and offspring of the modern urban environment,

represents one of humanity’s most complex and serious challenges (p. xx).

The LeRoux & Smith's findings point to a problematic phenomenon that is emerging and

threatening the very fabric of our societal advancement. The problems facing the 21st century child is

further embodied in the recent report of The State of the World's Children 2005, from the United

Nations, "Childhood Under Threat, "that more than 1 billion children are denied a...