MONROVIA – On Tuesday, Jan 6, 2026, the Monrovia City Police and Gender, Children, and Social Protection officials jointly arrested several street-selling children in Monrovia.
On Dec 18, 2025, the government of President Joseph Boakai banned children from begging and selling in the streets of Liberia.
The government emphasizes that children belong in school and should be protected and educated, not exposed to the dangers of the streets or used as a means of livelihood.
A total of ten children between the ages of 12, 14, and 15 were arrested in Sinkor, 9th Street, Carey, and Mechlin Streets in Central Monrovia, selling peanuts, bananas, cucumbers, pawpaws etc.
According to the government, parents or guardians who violate this directive face serious consequences, including arrest, heavy fines, or imprisonment. Additionally, citizens are encouraged to report any instances of child street selling or begging to the nearest police station.
This move by the government is a response to the national crisis of over 366,000 children estimated to be living in street situations, according to a 2022 survey by the government and UNICEF.
The ban is part of the “Support a Child, Save the Future” project, a five-year national effort by the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection.
The initiative includes plans to provide support systems for affected families, such as mandatory, free education for the children, economic support, and empowerment programs for mothers and caregivers, establishment of drop-in centers and temporary transit homes for at-risk children, family reunification and social reintegration programs. The Boakai government is working with partners, including UNICEF and the Ministries of Justice and Labor, to address the root causes of child street situations and provide long-term solutions. Courtesy of Crime Watch
