Abstract:
This study is a sociological analysis of streetism in Accra. It examined the factors that
push children into the streets, their encounters and effects of the experiences in the
streets, and the social protection mechanisms available to support street children. The
main theoretical resource employed was the resilience approach. Interviews and
observations were used to collect primary data from a cell of five street children and
people in four child protection agencies. The data collected were analysed through
template and thematic analysis. Unlike traditional studies where street children are
viewed as delinquents, the discussions showed that street children are very resilient
individuals who survive the harsh realities of street life. The risk of violence in the
streets, and life-threatening experiences there means that children being in the streets
needs to be understood in the context of life‘s adversities, injustice and vulnerabilities
that children have to endure in making that final decision to be in the streets. In terms
of the reasons for the intractability of streetism, it was found that children come to the
street because of perplexing familial and micro as well as macro level social and
economic issues such as loss of parents, family poverty and gaps in child protection.
Street children find solace on the streets because life has become very difficult and
unsustainable for them in the places where they originated. In the streets they work
pottering, hawking, as driver mates or security for shop owners and other vulnerable
people. They suffer several things including health problems, lack of shelter and
exposure to all kinds of vulnerable situations. While some occasionally join gangs or
engage in activities that are untoward, the majority remain chaste in the hope of a
better future. In terms of effects, streetism affects children in several ways: 1) it
denies the children their childhood and forces them to be responsible for their own
lives; 2) children become prey and vulnerable to many harsh social conditions in the
streets; 3) the children depended on peer groups to provide them with security and
protection; 4). some become victims of unsafe sexual practices and drug abuse; 5)
they are denied basic needs such as security and shelter. Although there are children
protection mechanisms to support street children, they are directed to help regular
children in schools and communities. As such, street children remain on the margins.
Therefore, it is recommended that the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social
Protection should develop specific protection mechanisms targeted at securing
alternative livelihoods and safety nests for street children.
Description:
A dissertation in the Department of Social Studies Education,
Faculty of Social Science Education, submitted to the School of
Graduate Studies in partial fulfilment
of the requirements for the award of the degree of
Master of Philosophy
(Social Studies Education)
in the University of Education, Winneba
FEBRUARY 2021