AMA To Arrest ‘Stray’ Children

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) says it will soon start prosecuting parents and guardians who leave their children to stray. The assembly has passed a by-law to prohibit children from wandering on the streets or begging for alms, more importantly during school hours. It however has to wait for a “green light” from the Attorney-General to enable it to enforce the by-law. AMA boss Alfred Vanderpuiye tells Joy News the assembly is committed to ensuring quality education for children in the metropolis. He says since the Assembly has successfully abolished the shift system, it should be easy to enforce the law when it is approved sometime this year. The Mayor said: “Once we find a child going against the by-law then we have to deal with the parents; we have to deal with whoever we have to deal with to make sure that we rectify and nullify that situation to make sure that the child is in school.” He said the assembly has discussed the law with the police and are prepared to back them.