At just 21 years old, Alimatu Ibrahim Sadia faces a struggle that few young mothers can imagine.
The young mother of triplets now relies on begging on the streets of Accra to feed her three children after being abandoned by their father and left without meaningful family or social support.
Originally from Tamale in Ghana’s Northern Region, Alimatu’s story reflects the harsh realities confronting many vulnerable young women who migrate from northern Ghana to major cities such as Accra in search of survival and better opportunities. Many of these migrants are often associated with the broader “kayayo/kayayei” phenomenon — a social reality involving young women who move to urban centres in search of livelihoods but frequently end up in situations of extreme poverty, vulnerability, and survival struggles.
Although Alimatu herself survives by begging for alms rather than working as a head porter, her experience reflects the same cycle of urban hardship faced by many of these vulnerable migrant women.
Driven by desperation and the need to care for her children, Alimatu recently moved from Tamale to Accra in search of a means of survival. However, life in the capital has proven far more difficult than she imagined.
She currently lives with her three children in a makeshift shelter within a slum community near the Agbogbloshie Yam Market in Accra — one of the city’s most densely populated informal settlements.
Today, she survives day to day by begging for alms from passersby in order to feed her one-year-six-month-old triplets.
“I beg people for money so I can buy food for my children,” she says softly.
For Alimatu, every day is a battle for survival.
While many parents struggle to care for one child, she faces the overwhelming responsibility of raising three toddlers at once without stable income, employment, or support from the children’s father.
The father of the children, identified as Sulemana Baba, is reportedly a small-scale farmer. According to Alimatu, he has not been providing support for the children, and neither has his family.
As a result, the young mother has been left to carry the burden of parenthood entirely on her own.
When asked whether she is able to provide food for her children daily, her response reveals the painful reality of her situation.
“Just a little,” she says softly.
Life Marked by Loss and Hardship
Beyond poverty, Alimatu’s life has been shaped by deep personal loss.
Her mother is deceased, and her father reportedly lives far away with his new wife. Without a dependable support system, she has found herself navigating motherhood and extreme hardship largely alone.
The emotional toll of raising triplets under such circumstances is immense.
At an age when many of her peers are pursuing education or vocational training, Alimatu spends her days struggling to secure food and basic necessities for her children.
Each day brings difficult choices between food, shelter, healthcare, and survival. Yet despite the challenges, she remains determined to fight for her children’s future.
Seeking Opportunity, Not Sympathy
Although she urgently needs assistance, Alimatu insists her greatest desire is not charity alone.
Having never had the opportunity to attend school, she dreams of receiving support to start a small business that would allow her to earn a living and provide for her children independently.
She believes that with startup capital and a chance to work, she can rebuild her life and give her children the care they deserve.
“I need help so I can do something to take care of my children,” she appeals.
Dreams for a Better Future
Despite her struggles, Alimatu’s hopes for her children remain strong.
She wants them to attend school, receive quality education, and grow up to become successful and responsible members of society.
Like every mother, she dreams of seeing her children achieve what she herself never had the opportunity to attain.
Her greatest hope is that education will open doors for her children that poverty has closed for her.
But without urgent intervention, those dreams remain at risk.
A Reflection of a Broader Social Challenge
Alimatu’s story highlights the wider struggle of many vulnerable young women from northern Ghana who migrate to cities in search of survival but often find themselves trapped in cycles of poverty, abandonment, and social exclusion.
It also reflects the broader reality faced by many women associated with the kayayo/kayayei migration phenomenon — not only head porters, but also street-based survival migrants navigating harsh urban conditions without safety nets or support systems.
Her situation underscores the urgent need for stronger social protection systems, livelihood opportunities, and targeted support for vulnerable mothers and children across Ghana.
A Call for Compassion and Support
Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG) is appealing to government agencies, non-governmental organizations, philanthropists, corporate institutions, faith-based organizations, and members of the public to extend support to Alimatu and her triplets.
Support may include:
- Food and nutritional assistance
- Clothing and childcare essentials
- Healthcare support
- Safe accommodation
- Educational support for the children
- Vocational training and startup capital for a small business
For Alimatu, such support would not only ease her immediate hardship but could transform the entire trajectory of her life and her children’s future.
As she continues her daily struggle to feed and care for her triplets, she holds onto hope that somewhere, someone will hear her cry for help and offer her children a chance at a better life.
No mother should have to beg on the streets to keep her children alive. Today, Alimatu and her triplets need more than sympathy—they need a lifeline.
How to Support
Individuals, philanthropists, corporate organizations, faith-based institutions, civil society organizations, and benevolent members of the public who wish to support Alimatu Ibrahim Sadia and her triplets can contact Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG) for verification and coordination.
Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG)
📞 Telephone: +233 (0)244 424 699
📧 Email: hrrghana@gmail.com
Every contribution, regardless of size, can make a meaningful difference in the lives of Alimatu and her three young children. Together, we can help restore hope, dignity, and opportunity to a young mother determined to build a better future for her family.
By Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG)