Some schoolchildren aged between 10 and 15 risk their lives daily to sell late at night around the tollbooths near the Tuba Junction on the main Kasoa-Mallam Road.
The children, who hawk sachet water, assorted drinks, plantain chips and toilet rolls, among other things, take advantage of the traffic build-up at the tollbooths to sell late at night, even at their peril.
They run alongside and in between vehicles, ignoring the danger their activities pose to them, in order to sell their wares to passengers in moving vehicles.
Apart from risking their lives running in between vehicles, they also open themselves up to contracting malaria because they sell close to the Densu River; a breeding ground for mosquitoes which are the agents of the malaria parasite.
Since the mounting of the tollbooths at the Tuba Junction, the area has recorded a number of accidents resulting in the death of some hawkers. Recently, some hawkers escaped injury when an articulated truck ran into the Densu River.
In separate interviews, some of the children said although what they were engaged in was risky, they had no option but to continue doing that since they needed to earn some money to support the incomes of their parents and guardians.
One of such children, 12-year-old Ernest Commodore, who sells Malt, told the Junior Graphic that he had to hawk in the evenings to support his father, an artisan, who was struggling to take care of him.
Another child who gave his name only as Kobby, said he sold sachet water to support his guardian to take care of him. He said although he closed at about 9 p.m. everyday and selling in between the vehicles was dangerous, he had to do so to make some money.
According to him, if he does not hawk everyday, his guardian would not be able to raise enough money for his education and upkeep.
Philip Acquah, 13, would not give details about the whereabouts of his parents but told the Junior Graphic that he usually closed from "work" when the traffic build up had eased.
A child of about nine years who was also seen selling sachet water at about 9 p.m ran away when the Junior Graphic tried eliciting some information from him.
Thirteen-year-old Kofi Sammy, who sells toilet rolls, said his mother sold soft drinks at the tollbooths, so he also hawked there to support her raise more money for the family.
His father, he said, was a fisherman and with three other siblings to take care of, he had to assist to make life more comfortable for everyone.
"I do not run after cars because I know the dangers," he said.
A concerned parent, Nii Clottey, who was appalled at seeing children selling late at night, said something needed to be done about the situation.
"As a regular user of this road, I get angry anytime I see these kids running up and down and in between vehicles. I hope we are not waiting for a disaster to occur before we act," he said.
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