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Story Of A Former Street Child, Gideon Obiri

GIDEON OBIRI is a native of Kwawu Abetifi in the Eastern Region of Ghana. He is 16years old and a physically challenged person who had one leg amputated following an accident when he was about 6 years old. He was admitted at Okomfo Anokye Teaching hospital in Kumasi. 

At birth his father refused responsibility for him, so his mother was forced to live with his grandmother called Madam Akosua Esther who lived in Kwawu. But following his accident, Gideon's mother abandoned him at the hospital before he was discharged because of lack of money to pay for Gideon's hospital bills. 

As fortune would have it, a woman by the name Madam Serwaa Bonsu, a native of Kumasi Asofia whose child was admitted in the same ward as Gideon, paid his medical bills and adopted Gideon as her own. The insurance company of the driver who knocked down Gideon however paid Gideon's compensation to this new foster mother of Gideon. 

Coincidentally, around the same time, Madam Serwaa's husband broke up with her and made away with Gideon's compensation. 

After few years, Gideon started suffering discrimination at the hands of Madam Serwaa's children; he alone was made to fetch water from the well, do all the house chores and humiliated in many ways. With a broken heart, Gideon traced his his way back to his maternal grandmother and lived with her for a while and attended a Methodist school, but as a result of hardship at home he hit the streets of Kumasi in search of sustenance. 

But after struggling unsuccessfully to make any headway, Gideon mustered courage and went back to live with Madam Serwaa, but things had not changed there. Restlessly in search of peace, acceptance and a way out of poverty, he followed friends to Accra and made the streets of Accra his home. Among other ways to survive, he used to beg for alms and also cleaned the windscreens of cars around the traffic light near the National Theatre for some token to make ends meet. 

He and his friends slept at the bus terminal at the Tema station in Accra and this exposed them to all kinds of adversity. They were often attacked and their monies stolen so they used to hand over their earnings to some of the traders at the bus terminal for safe keeping. They contributed to support each other when one was ill.

Gideon being very humble, hardworking, and very responsible, his friends made him their leader and accorded him respect.
To the Glory of GOD an investigative journalist who is popularly known as Little Daniel, and his partners (Young Vissionaries Inc.) encountered him and sought help from Hope Village, an NGO who adopted Gideon and nine of his friends to give them a vocation, a home and a future. From all indications – judging by  his industry, wisdom and intelligence – it is certain that this boy will be a celebrated icon and achiever on the African continent.

Reported by Little Daniel

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