Govt urged to address streetism, support orphanages

March 26, 2026

2 minutes read

The government has been urged to take deliberate steps to address streetism by supporting orphanages that care for children neglected by their families and forced to live on the streets.

The Group Managing Director of Village of Hope, Mr Fred Asare, said the contributions of orphanage homes, such as his, to the country’s socio-economic development could not be underestimated.

He noted that despite limited government support, many orphanages had nurtured individuals who now contribute significantly to national development, citing Francis-Xavier Sosu, the MP for Madina, as an example.

Mr Asare, therefore, appealed for increased financial assistance to help sustain and expand interventions for vulnerable children.

He made the appeal during the launch of the 30th anniversary of Village of Hope at the Heritage Christian University College on Monday, under the theme: ‘30 Years of Hope: Transforming Lives and Securing the Future.’

“The issue of streetism has been with us for many years and it is getting worse by the day. One of the ways we could stop it is to stop the inflow. If we can build our rural communities, support families, and put every child in school, then they will have no reason to come to the city in search of jobs and other opportunities,” Mr Asare stated.

He explained that financial constraints make it difficult for the orphanage to adequately care for children and babies, as it depends largely on donations from corporate organisations and philanthropists.

“We do not get any support from the state in the care of the abandoned children and babies we receive from the police and the Department of Social Welfare. We take care of the babies until the Department of Social Welfare finds a home or adoptive parents for them,” he added.

Despite the challenges, Mr Asare said the orphanage, which had established two elementary schools, a vocational training institute, and a hospital, would continue to support vulnerable children as it had done over the past 30 years.

The President of the National House of Chiefs and Paramount Chief of Sefwi Anhwiaso Traditional Area, Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II, expressed concern about the rise of fake prophets despite the positive role of Christianity in national development, particularly in education.

He also highlighted the impact of Western cultural practices, such as white weddings and nuclear family systems, on traditional values, and called for stronger collaboration among religious bodies, political leaders, and traditional authorities.

BY BENJAMIN ARCTON-TETTEY

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