Twenty-three (23) children believed to be living on the streets of Tamale on Sunday were arrested by the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly’s Bihisung Taskforce.
The children aged between 4 and 15 were arrested after 10 p.m at different locations within the metropolis.
Led by the Metropolitan Chief Executive of Tamale, Mr. Iddrisu Musah Superior and assisted by the presiding member, Mr. Abu Takoro and the communications manager, the action of the Task-force took many residents, especially, those within the central business district of Tamale by surprise.
It’s decision to pick the children off the streets followed series of warnings to parents that it would soon fine parents who allow their children to roam the streets of Tamale during odd hours.
The assembly inaugurated the Bihisung taskforce some few months ago in a bid to rid the streets of Tamale off children. Its members were drawn from the clergy, the assembly, traditional rulers and the police service.
The first swoop of the exercise picked children around the main bus stop, Vodafone area and parts of Aboabu in what many residents described as Rambo style.
Some of the children were seen sleeping in open places in the streets while their mothers engaged in petty trades.
After close to an hour exercise, tension started mounting over the way and manner the exercise was conducted.
The mayor and the taskforce realizing that people were massing up the police station took the ‘rescued’ children to an unknown place to pass the night. Each child has a bed with two trained social workers attending to his/her needs. A medical doctor has also been brought in to attend to the medical needs of the children.
Speaking to Zaa News, the mayor of Tamale stated that his outfit will no longer tolerate irresponsible parenting in the Metropolis.
Mr Superior said the taskforce will continue to carry out the exercise without prior notice, and parents who expose their children to danger and harsh conditions will not go scot-free. The TaMA, Mr Superior said will not allow parents to undermine the future of vulnerable children who could become leaders of tomorrow. He assured the public that the exercise will not be a nine-day wonder.
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.