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25 more years of empowering street children, families and communities in Ghana!

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 Street children in Ghana represent a deeply entrenched soci­etal challenge. In 2011, over 90,000 children were reported living on the streets of Greater Accra alone, with 66 per cent being migrants, according to the Department of Social Welfare. These children are forced to navigate life without the safety and stability of a home and access to uninterrupted education.

For 25 years, Chance for Children (CFC) has been trying to change this narrative. From its humble beginnings in 1999, CFC has grown into a nationwide organisation impacting over 4,000 children and families annually. Co-founded by Amon Kotey and Daniela Ruedisueli Sodjah, the organisation was born out of a shared vision to create a better future for street children. Today, with a dedicated team of over 80 employees and operations in Accra, Hebron, Tamale, Kumasi, Dambai and Takoradi, CFC stands as a testament to the power of passion, commitment, and action.

A holistic individual approach to supporting street children is at the heart of CFC’s work. Recognising that the challenges faced by street children are multi-faceted, the organisation provides tailored pro­grammes that address their safety, health, education, social develop­ment, and emotional well-being. Over the years, CFC has helped children go back to school and reunite with their family members. Several youths have been provid­ed with vocational training and equipped with life skills to manage their lives. Through these efforts, countless street children and youth have gone on to pursue stable careers, becoming advocates for others in their communities.

While CFC has made much progress in several regions across Ghana, the streets remain home to many more children who face unimaginable hardships every day. In recent years, Ghana has seen a 50 per cent increase in migration from rural to urban areas, leading to a significant rise in street com­munities. This surge has resulted in more children migrating to cities like Accra, Kumasi, and Takoradi alone or with adults.

Tema, known for its busy fishing harbour, sees many street children engaged in fishing-relat­ed activities. Meanwhile, in both Tema and Kasoa, children can be found selling sachet water, scrap metals, or carrying heavy loads in markets. Others, sadly, are drawn into more dangerous situations like commercial sex work. These children are often without support systems, leaving them exposed to exploitation, poor living con­ditions, and limited access to education.

In 2025, CFC will establish a team of social workers in Tema and Kasoa. They will provide direct support to street chil­dren, motivating them to return to school and live with family members where possible. The goal is not just to strengthen street chil­dren but to empower families and create sustainable systems within communities that can nurture and protect their young ones. This will involve collaborating with all stakeholders to develop long-term solutions.

Join us in giving more street children a chance to a bright future! For more information connect with us on LinkedIn @ Chance for Children Ghana or visit our website https://www.chance-for-children.org

Story by:

Abigail Sackey

Executive Coordinator

abigail.sackey@chance-for-children.org

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 Heritage Month Ghana trends

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Since the institution of the Heri­tage Month celebration in Ghana, it has offered citizens opportuni­ties of a lifetime to learn about their cultures and lifestyles.

Ghana’s version is observed in the month of March, coinciding with the country’s Independence Day celebra­tions on March 6.

Heritage Month features festivals, food fairs, arts, crafts, and music events to highlight the economic and social value of preserving national heritage.

Though a brainchild of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), the celebra­tion has been driven to greater heights by local media with the organisation of several events to create the needed euphoria.

Among the events are the Heritage Caravan and Back To Your Village Food Bazaar pow­ered by Accra-based Citi FM and Citi TV, Wear Ghana Festival and the Gɔbɛ festival powered by 3News.

The Heritage Caravan is a road trip which takes patrons across more than half of Ghana’s regions to offer a distinctive road trip that allows participants to explore the various re­gions of Ghana, providing an up-close encounter with the country’s histori­cal and cultural heritage.

In addition to these roles played by the media, news anchors and other presenters appear on screens immac­ulately garbed in locally made outfits, bringing out the beauty of our tradi­tions.

Today, The Spectator news­paper selected a few of the media personalities that are working to give the cel­ebration a global dimension to project the country.  

 By Andrew Nortey

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 MoMo vendor 24 murdered at Kwadaso

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• Mobile money shop
• Mobile money shop

 A disturbing crime has shaken the Kwadaso Onion market communi­ty in Kumasi, leaving family and friends grieving the loss of a young life.

Identified only as Junior, a 24-year-old mobile money vendor, was found murdered in his room on Saturday, March 8, 2025.

According to eyewitnesses, Junior had returned home the previous day with a substantial amount of money, over Gh¢20,000.

It was suspected that the killers might have been motivated by the large sum of money in Junior’s posses­sion.

A police source that confirmed this to The Spectator, said investigation has been launched into Junior’s mur­der, but so far, no arrests have been made.

The Kwadaso community is reeling in shock, calling for justice and an end to the atrocity that has claimed the life of a young and promising individ­ual.

Junior, is believed to be a native of Ejisu Onwe, and was known to his col­leagues and friends as a hardworking and diligent individual who worked at the Kumasi Race Course.

His tragic death serves as a stark reminder of the risks and challenges mobile money vendors faced.

The incident comes barely a month after Patricia Nimako, a 27-year-old Mobile Money (MoMo) vendor, was shot and killed at Krofrom, Kumasi in the Ashanti region by an unknown assail­ants.

The suspected armed robbers fled with the deceased cell phones and an amount of GH¢10,000 on Thursday, February 13, at approximately 3:00 p.m.

The two armed robbers reportedly stormed the kiosk where the deceased was operating and without any provo­cation shot her dead.

There has not been any arrest yet by the police.

 From Kingsley E. Hope , Kumasi

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 Learn how to prepare local dishes…Queen mothers urge young women

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• Some local dishes

 In a heartwarming display of inter­generational wisdom, queen moth­ers from local communities in the Obuasi enclave shared their expertise on how to prepare local diets with young ladies on the International Women’s Day event, courtesy of An­gloGold Ashanti, Obuasi Mine.

Beyond the fanfare, these revered women leaders took centre stage to impart a vital life skill: traditional cooking as they guided eager students and other young ladies through the art of preparing local delicacies.

In fact, the aroma of ‘Abunabunu’, ‘Aprapransa’, ‘Enuhu’, ‘Akaw’, ‘Tuo Zafi’ (TZ), among others, wafted through the air to the extent it could attract people from a distance, as the queen mothers entertained the young women with tales of resilience, entrepreneurship, and community building.

This year’s International Wom­en’s Day Celebration was under the theme: ‘Accelerate Action for Wom­en’s Equity.’

As the event drew to a close, the queen mothers gave words of wisdom upon their young guests.

From Nana Amoanima Dede, Queen mother of Adansi she stated that: “Never forget your roots, and always remember that the kitchen is not just a place for cooking, but for building connections and forging communi­ties.”

Nana Akua Dwum II, Queen moth­er of Edubiase, on her part urged the young ladies to learn how to prepare traditional dishes in order to preserve cultural heritage of the nation.

Earlier, the Managing Director of the mining company, Samuel Boakye Pobee, mentioned their readiness to roll out an “All-Women Apprentice­ship Programme, aimed at empow­ering young women in the Obuasi communities in entrepreneurship.”

He said the project would include women in basic technical skills and their capacity building to boost their employability to reshape perceptions of women’s roles in traditionally male-dominated industries.

According to the Managing Director, the mining company’s commitment “is to empower young people with specialised skills, and progressive knowledge to make them financially independent.”

The company, he indicated, was accelerating action towards wom­en’s equality at the Obuasi Mine and within host communities with the aim to build a foundation to create an inclusive and supportive business culture.

Mr Pobee expressed the need for innovative approaches and dedicated efforts to encourage and invest in women’s participation in all fields, including all levels of technical and operational areas and must be inten­tional and deliberate.”

 From Kingsley E. Hope, Obuasi

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