Today, I had the pleasure of being introduced to the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection for the Republic of Ghana, Honorable Cynthia Morrison. She spoke to nearly 60 children who had been gathered off the streets of Accra earlier this morning. Two buses pulled up to Efua Sutherland Children’s Park around 10:30 a.m. As the children began offloading from the bus, a sense of sadness came over me. Children who had no home stood in front of me. Many are on the streets because their parents have abandoned them. Many find themselves trying to hustle up enough money to purchase their next meal. Others are simply destitute and hoping that the right person comes along to offer much-desired help.

That is the purpose of Minister Morrison’s “Operation Get Off the Street for a Better Life.” This initiative is aimed at removing all children off the streets of Accra. But it’s a lot tougher to implement than one can fathom. Take for instance the personal conversation she had with several children. The Minister stood before them and questioned why they were picked up and brought there today. I eventually learned this group of children was previously removed off the streets and taken to a shelter that they subsequently left. This bit of information gave me clarity as to why she asked that question. Unfortunately, the answer to her question is one that is all too common. It’s the classic case of running back to the only thing you know: the streets. Here is a ministry that is offering shelter, food, guidance, and structure to children in dire need of all four elements. Yet, some seem to not appreciate the olive branch that is extended to them. Or maybe they don’t know exactly how to receive help. What does one do at this point?

Minister Morrison petitioned for the collective help from NGO’s and good-natured, local Ghanaians to assist in removing and keeping these children off the streets. She stated that the ministry’s efforts alone are simply not enough to eradicate this problem.

I looked on as volunteers began documenting the names and any information offered by each child. Some children were interviewed by a local tv station, Pan African TV, as others were handed white styrofoam containers that held what appeared to be white rice and some form of meat. As I watched the children eat, I couldn’t help but wonder exactly how many children in Accra need this type of help? How did it get to this point? Exactly how long will it take to make sure that this problem no longer exists? Is that even a possibility?

As I reflect on everything I’ve witnessed and felt this morning, I can’t help but smile. I think about the group of children who I sat and watched run around, playing and laughing as if they weren’t going through personal hardships. I recall looking on as some took the opportunity to fill up not only their stomachs with much-needed nutrition but other children’s stomachs as well. I remember watching the mothers from Ladies With Ladles of Love go on camera to be interviewed. I believe they did it to give the children a break from the camera and the questions.

After today’s experience, I feel like my heart has been through an emotional game of Tug of War. On the one hand, I spoke with the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection as I told her how excited I was to have the opportunity to meet the woman my colleagues at Radio Univers raved about. But to hear her plea and witness those children smile and laugh because at that moment they were able to be kids again, was soul-wrenching.