Maa Afia, a young homeless first-time voter, has opened up about how a heated argument with her father led to her being thrown out of their home and ultimately pushed her into prostitution.
With her biological mother grappling with mental illness and often absent, Maa Afia’s father was her only consistent parent. However, after marrying a woman who did not accept her as a stepdaughter, Maa Afia faced maltreatment at home. The situation escalated when her father physically assaulted her with a belt, prompting her to report him to the police. Following her report, she was swiftly expelled from the house, left to fend for herself.
In an interview with Lois Shola Adeyemi on the latest episode of Just Turned 18, Maa Afia revealed the grim reality of her situation. After exhausting her efforts to find a decent job, she turned to the streets of Kwame Nkrumah, where prostitution became her only means of survival.
“My dad threw me out after I reported him to the police. Now I resort to prostitution to get by, but it’s not lucrative at all,” she shared. “There are no job opportunities, and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) is constantly on our backs. They recently burned my belongings, and I lost my Ghana Card and National Health Insurance card. If I fall ill, I won’t be able to afford treatment.”
Maa Afia explained that while prostitution is her only income source, she struggles to afford even basic meals and a place to sleep. She often finds herself sleeping under footbridges or in front of stores, exposing her to numerous dangers and health risks.
Unlike Maa Afia, fellow first-time voters Ama and Aisha chose to leave their homes voluntarily, opting to hustle on the streets of Kwame Nkrumah to support their families. They expressed that the harsh conditions at home motivated their decision, believing that street life would provide them with enough income to help their struggling families.
“My parents have asked me to come back home, but if I do, I’ll be miserable. At least I can send home a little money from my street job,” Ama explained.
Aisha, who has not seen her mother since childhood, added, “I talk to my father often, and he begs me to return, but I refuse. I want to support him and my siblings, which is why I’m hustling on the streets.”
Isaac, another young voter, left home after a ban on galamsey and mining activities in his community made it impossible to provide for his family. He moved to Accra in search of work but faced harsh realities and ended up on the streets.
Similarly, Wisdom, Kojo, and Yaw left their families with the promise of returning only after earning enough money to lift their families out of financial hardship. However, their dreams are fading as they struggle to make even a basic living.
These first-time voters shared how political parties have frequently paid them to attend rallies, promising to build training facilities and provide stable housing. However, once the rallies are over, these promises are often forgotten, leading many young people to lose interest in participating in elections.
The group expressed their hope that the government will address their needs and concerns, believing that fulfilling these promises is essential for them to rally behind a party and consider voting in the 2024 elections. The challenges they face on the streets underline the urgent need for solutions from political leaders.
