Letter to the Editor: It’s dangerous for children to hawk

Dear Editor, The close down of schools during this time of COVID-19 has resulted in some children hawking on the streets, a development I consider  very dangerous.

It is so pathetic to see children as young as six years selling on the streets just to earn money for a living. This is very risky because the children are being exposed to many dangers out there. For instance, children could be exposed to COVID-19.

The schools were closed so that the country could minimise the risk of children getting the virus, yet some  parents and guardians are exposing them.
Again, the fumes from vehicles which  ply these streets on which the children sell could  affect their respiratory system.

The child selling on the streets also risks being kidnapped by people with bad motives. Added to these is the fact that they could  be knocked down by a vehicle.

Parents should provide for their children and not allow them to bear  that responsibility.  They should ensure that their children stay at home and participate in the e-learning programmes introduced by the Ghana Education

Service (GES) and the Ministry of Education. This way, the child would not find him or herself wanting when school finally resumes.

Parents should also educate their children on the COVID-19 safety protocols and ensure that they adhere to them in order to stay healthy.

 Tabitha Armah
Cefelix Academy,
Lartebiokorshie, Accra.