By Ragan M. Conteh

The increased number of beggars in the streets particularly in Freetown is clear manifestations of the existing harsh economic situation majority of the population in the country are enduring. It has reduced many to mere destitute as they remain pegged under the poverty line.

And those who bear the greatest brunt are the unemployed and the aged who rely heavily on others for their survival.  The appalling economic situation has undeniably forced made particularly old people to take to begging and their number keep increasing. They are found at different locations across the capital especially along Kissy Road, Cotton Tree where they usually receive handouts from philanthropist organizations and individuals.

On Friday particularly, they are found in every corner moving from one shop to the other begging.

Nobody wants to beg or to be referred to as a beggar. But in Sierra Leone today begging is becoming an institution or a trade.

The meanest one could do is to be reduced to begging which became imminent during and after the war.

Families were devastated, homes destroyed and the economy raped if not completely.

Begging especially in the capital Freetown used to occur on Fridays when Muslims have their weekly Jumma prayers.

That phenomenon has however changed as there are no limits like Friday like any other day they will beg.

These beggars of course look always look hungry and frustrated looking for somebody to feed them.

What is more disheartening is that they use children to beg and almost all of them do not go to school all they do is carry their parents around. So their future is completely bleak with little or no hope.

Initially, beggars used to be the blind, lepers, disabled and the aged but there is the emergence of a new set of beggars whom many have referred to as “do not want to search for work”.

They will either give an excuse that they are short of transportation fare as they are living far away or some will say they have not eaten or have not fed their homes for days.

Interestingly, there is this type of beggars referred to as another set of youth man, who will always say to you ‘boss your boys are here’ a way to beg few notes.

Every morning in the city centre, you are greeted by numerous beggars who make one wonder where they sleep.

Child organizations and the Social Affairs ministry are trying to get rid of child beggars and the aged from the streets, but as it is said ‘do not let the street get the best of you’ once you were there, you are always tempted to come back.

Africa 24 Newspaper spoke to one of the beggars, Rugiatu Kanu along Kissy Road in Freetown, who said nobody really wants to be beggar. She said it is not her making. She said she find herself in that situation as a result of the hardship in the country. “There is nobody to assist me and I am the bread winner of my family with three children and their father died during the war and now I beg with them to live,” she laments.

Another woman, Mammy Aminata S Turay explained that things were not that bad for their family of four as the husband was not only hard working but cared for them.

“We started experiencing difficulties when my husband died and his family claimed his assets. I was told that I killed him in order to claim his wealth,” she said.

Many beggars have called on international organizations and other philanthropists to expand their charity to them as the situation in the country keeps worsening economically.