STATISTICS

 

 

The increasing number of street children over the 14 years since CAS has been working in Accra makes it difficult to ignore the growing phenomenon. In 1990, research by the University of Ghana suggests there were about 4,000 street children in Accra. Six years later CAS conducted a head count and the number was closer to 10,400 children. An alarming increase of more than 6,000 children. In 2003 CAS conducted another headcount and believed the number to be 15,300.

And the numbers continue to rise. The latest head count, conducted in 2006 in the selected areas of Tema and Ashaiman, proved the number of street children to be a horrifying 21,140. In addition to this, there were 7500 street mothers who were below the age of 20 and another 14,500 urban poor children. The latest census conducted in Accra in 2009, shown that the number has increased to over 35,000.

These statistics show the alarming rise in the number of children who live, work and spend at least some of their time on the streets of Accra. These are the children that CAS strives to help.