A CUP IN HAND FOR SURVIVAL

We encounter them daily on our way to work, in our markets, at strategic traffic stops, in front of offices and increasingly on our church premises. I am talking about the beggars dotted all over the city. They are usually people living with physical or mental disabilities. The act of begging remains a complex issue with different facets and has been aptly described in Aminata Sow Fall’s satire, The Beggars Strike. In Islam and Christianity, alms-giving is one of the tenets to profess one’s faith hence people sometimes drop some coins or notes into the cups of these beggars so as to fulfill their religious/ spiritual obligations.

We should not necessarily assume beggars are people who do not want to earn their own living as some do have the desire to work but cannot find jobs. They are sometimes people stranded in their search for better lives in the city hence resort to begging for survival. But where does a giver draw the line so as not to be taken for granted for their generosity? Because it appears people’s acts of giving alms are creating “job opportunities” for others. You will find people capable of holding decent jobs resorting to begging as it’s getting increasingly lucrative. How many “preachers” haven’t we come across who conveniently ride our buses, scream out their lungs and at the end of their evangelical sessions ask passengers to donate money to continue the work of the Lord?

What about the smartly dressed gentleman, student or lady who claims he or she is short of money to board a bus home therefore needs an additional one or five cedis to continue their journey? You give them the money yet find them standing at the same spot three weeks later telling the story they previously told you, to others. What of that parent who approaches you with a prescription asking for support to buy medication for their sick child? Oh, what about the mother carrying a baby on her back who comes to you with the sad story of how she lost her job, was abandoned by her husband and needs money to feed her children?


There are even those bold enough to enter church premises after services to play the guilt trip on you – but of course, you just closed from church right? Where the Lord has admonished you to be kind and generous to your neighbor, the poor and needy, not so? Are you going to deny him or her, right in front of the Lord’s house? Of course not – mission accomplished! Indeed, some of the stories you hear can be heart wrenching but due to the increasing number of swindlers amongst us one can no longer be sure of their genuineness. Only the heavens can verify these stories.

What really worries me is the fact that a good number of these beggars are usually people living with physical or mental disabilities. This says a lot about our society as it appears less is being done to assimilate them enough to access meaningful jobs for survival. We are ignoring their needs and forcing them to live stereotypical lives where people erroneously assume people with disabilities cannot do much for themselves hence must constantly depend on others for their needs. That should not be so as I’ve come across quite a few who through being educated or given the opportunity to learn a trade have made wonderful accomplishments for themselves and contributed meaningfully to society.

Whereas some people genuinely need our help to survive through begging, we will never know if the next person who approaches you for alms will be a fraudster or a lazy person refusing to utilize their potentials. I only hope as a nation, we find ways to create more opportunities for the marginalized in our society because I believe a good number of them can do meaningful things if given the chance. But while at it, hope the next beggar whose cup you drop your coins into genuinely needs the help.