Vulnerability in Plain Sight: Refugee Children Begging on Ghana's Streets and the Implications for National Security

Refugee children begging for alms on streets of major cities in Ghana like Accra, Kumasi, and Takoradi are a humanitarian and security issue that Ghana cannot afford to ignore. Barred from school and exposed to accidents, exploitation, and abuse, such children personify the crossroads of displacement, poverty, and failing protection regimes. Through a policy analysis approach, this paper deploys UNHCR educational statistics, Ghana Road Safety Reports, and child rights secondary sources. The paper argues that refugee children's case go beyond a child protection problem to a country security issue, because institutional neglect can lead to long-term risks of radicalisation, crime, and chaos. The paper identifies high prevalence of out-of-school children among refugees, recurrences of street children involved in accidents, and raising exposure of girls to sexual exploitation. The paper concludes with pragmatic policy recommendations, such as inclusive education reform, child protection programme, family support of refugees, and awareness campaigns. The protection of refugee children is both a moral issue and a strategic imperative for Ghana's peace and development.