Twins Foundation calls on Chief Imam

THE Ghana Twins Foundation has called on the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, to lead in the campaign against exploitation of twins as instruments for begging in the country.
A delegation from the foundation which made the appeal during a courtesy call on the Chief Imam in Accra said there was an increase in the spate of twin beggars who were mostly from the Moslem community.
The courtesy call, led by Ms Zeena Abou-Jaoude, the President of the foundation, was intended to draw the Chief Imam's attention to the phenomenon of begging by twins and elicit his support to ameliorate the canker.
Ms Abou-Jaoude said the practice by some parents using their twins to beg for alms should be perceived as a national concern, since begging exposed the children to dangers and deprived them of the appropriate shelter, health care and basic education.
She said the practice had deprived most vulnerable children the opportunity to develop their potential and contribute to national development.
"Most of these women, who migrated from northern Ghana, are Moslems who have been made by soothsayers to believe that they should use their twins to beg for alms or else their children will die. In order to save the lives of these children, these women would have to resort to begging on the streets for money,” she said.
Ms Abou-Jaoude said as a national icon and an authority in the Islam, the Chief Imam's voice would help to draw the attention of the government and other stakeholders to the plight of such deprived children.
On behalf of the Chief Imam, the Spokesperson, Mr M.G. Mohammed, said the exploitation of children, particularly twins, was a problem which needed urgent attention.
He said measures were being put in place by the Muslim Council to set up a foundation to cater for the youth who needed quality education.
He commended the foundation for the initiative and assured them of the council's commitment to support the campaign.


Picture: The Spokesperson for the National Chief Imam, M.G. Mohammed (middle). On his left is the President of the Ghana Twins Foundation, Ms Zeena Abou-Jaoude, and her twin sister, Ms Maya Abou-Jaoude, in a group picture with some other members of the foundation.

Picture saved on machine 139 as Twins.