10-year-old boy dies in Kumasi amid alleged child trafficking and forced begging

Correspondence from Ashanti Region

The death of a young beggar in a wheelchair, allegedly forced to beg on the streets of Kumasi, has sparked outrage and renewed concerns about child trafficking and the exploitation of children for forced begging.

The boy, believed to be between 9 and 10 years old, was reportedly brought to the Marboa Hospital Centre in Kumasi by his assistant, identified as Gamboo, aged 14. He was, however, pronounced dead on arrival.

Hospital staff discovered multiple bruises on the boy’s body, fueling suspicions of abuse by individuals allegedly trafficking and exploiting the children.

The case came to light after Gamboo wheeled the boy’s lifeless body to the hospital in search of medical attention. Sources revealed that the child had routinely been used for street begging in Kumasi, with all proceeds allegedly handed over to those controlling him.

Authorities further discovered that by the time the body was brought to the hospital at around 12:00 p.m., the exploiters had already collected about GH¢250.00 from the day’s begging.

Nana Kwabena Asante, administrator of the Marboa Hospital Centre, confirmed that the child was brought in dead around noon.

He said the visible bruises prompted the hospital to immediately notify the police. “Upon questioning, Gamboo claimed that a woman had assigned him to take the child out for begging,” Asante disclosed.

In an interview with GhanaWeb’s Ashanti Regional Correspondent Nana Peprah, Gamboo revealed that they were originally from Kano State in Nigeria and added that the deceased boy was in a wheelchair due to a disability.

The tragic incident has since intensified calls for urgent action against child trafficking and forced begging—a practice that exploits vulnerable children for financial gain.

Police have taken over the case, with the body deposited at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital morgue for autopsy and further investigation.

Asante commended ongoing government efforts to combat child trafficking but urged stronger interventions from both state and non-state actors to completely eradicate what he described as a “canker.”

He stressed the urgent need to clamp down on the trafficking of children into Ghana for forced begging.