Social Tragedy in Amma Darko’S Faceless: The Plight of Street Children

Abstract

In every household, children are ‘the joys of motherhood’ and families. However, children cannot grow normally and decently without the care and the protection of their parents/family/society and government. In many African countries, homeless/street children roam about the street to beg for food and money and become easy preys for the sadistic and unscrupulous predators.This article examines through Amma Darko’s Faceless (2003) street children phenomenon, their plight and the irresponsibility of the adults be parents/family members and community. The causes of this phenomenon, the violence that it nurtures and the misfortunes street children are facing in the hands of the ‘street lords’ are also highlighted.  Most of the time, street children are forced into prostitution and are sexually active before their teens with its subsequent consequences.

Keywords: street children, child abuse and prostitution, violence, irresponsibility, poverty.