The business of begging

As a child, I have always been told to give to those who are in need. I have been raised up to believe that if I don’t give to the needy, I will find my way to hell. Due to these teachings that has been imbued in me, I have been generally been sympathetic to the needy. After all it is said in the Holy Scriptures that “there is blessing in giving than receiving”. Growing up, I have however disabused my mind of this notion. I am just tired of seeing a familiar face beg on the street for far too long, I am tired of giving money to a beggar who asks me for money today and yet shamefully ask me for help again when he or she meets me on the next day.

The business of begging is all over! On the streets of Accra and Kumasi, you will see light coloured children begging for alms. At times, they threaten to harass you if you don't give them money. Pass through the various business districts and you shall know what I am talking about. The questions I always ask myself is that “why do these people perpetually beg on the street?”, “Is begging a lucrative business?”, ”Is there any barrier of restriction to the begging market?

THE PUNCTUAL “CIVIL” WORKER

In Ghana, if there is any organization in which the workers are punctual and diligent in their service then it is these beggars. They barely miss a day in job; from Monday to Sunday, these people always troop in to their various “work place” to beg for money. They are so punctual at their workplace so much that you can use them as reference point to direct somebody to your house. They come to work even before most shops open and are very good at putting up a show for people to have sympathy on them.

THE PERPETUAL BEGGARS.

Once, I together with a friend decided to find out whether beggars will stop begging if they are giving "enough" money. It so happened that we knew a child who frequented the premises of the university, we took him to a popular food joint and bought food for him. For the experiment to work, we told him to order whichever food and quantity he wanted to buy, the bill was on us. You can’t believe it! This boy ordered a chunk of food which could be eaten by three people, we paid for it and gave him GHC10.00 for him to take a car back home. Four hours later, we meet this same boy at his vantage point and he had enough motivation to ask us for money again. From the looks of things, he had forgotten our faces. This proves one thing, that no matter the amount beggars make a day, they shall found to beg for money. After this whole incidence, it became clear to me that these beggars are just exploiting the kindness of Ghanaians to continue their begging spree. It is obvious that no matter how much they end, the streets shall still continue to be their enterprise.

THE OLIGARCHICAL MARKET

I have heard stories which often suggested that these beggars control the number of beggars on the streets. A story I heard recently informed me that, these beggars are hostile to new beggars and actually gang up to “remove” this new beggar off their premises. The “fewer the merrier” apotheosis is very much applied here. Where there exist no “barrier restrictions” the beggars there are more ruthless and they apply all sort of machination to get people to give them money. An example of such areas are the Business Districts of the various regions; predominant among them is Circle (Accra), Adum (Kumasi) and Tamale. They will even hold your dresses, stop you and tell you to give them money or they are not letting you go. This is how ruthless the competitive beggars market are! And that is where most of the Malian and Sudanese beggars operate. Beware when you pass these places, you might end up going home with a child begging you for money.

CHILDREN BEGGING IN THE VARIOUS UNIVERSITIES

Despite the University having a bigger market, most beggars do not ply their route there. They have however devised a strategy to catch on the market. What they do is very simple! They just send children to beg for alms. These children are very wonderful in this enterprise. For people who are unfamiliar with these children, you will give them all what you have. They approach you quietly and tell you that they want money to buy food, making gestures which shows that they are dying. When sophomores come to school for the first week, they really cash on them. All what their parents do is to teach them the dynamics and after a hard day’s work, they come home with money. However, not all parents are aware that their children are begging on the streets of the university. But even those who are aware are even motivating their children to continue with this act of theirs.

RETIREMENT PLAN

Most beggars simply do not retire, the older you are the more likely people will have compassion on you. The old beggars are more cherished in the begging enterprise. If you are an old woman then trust me, you have a cherished value in the begging business. All what they need is some tattered clothes and a walking stick to depict the nature of a poor and needy person. In the begging business, there is nothing like retirement. You beg to death! Surprisingly, after they die, an expensive funeral is held to commensurate their death.

THE BUSINESS FOR LAZY (WO) - MEN

In all, the people are beg are not the vulnerable in the society but those who are using their physical outlook to deceive people for money.

WRITTEN BY: J.Y. FRIMPONG

BIO: J.Y. Frimpong is a writer. He is currently studying at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.