The Northern Regional Security Council (REGSEC) has announced a new directive aimed at reducing juvenile loitering and improving public safety: children under 18 found roaming the streets at night will be arrested and detained.
This move was unveiled by Northern Regional Minister Adolf Ali during Eid-ul-Adha prayers at the Tamale Jubilee Park, an event attended by hundreds, including Professor Amin Alhassan. The minister raised concerns over a growing trend of unsupervised minors wandering the streets after dark, a pattern that poses serious risks to their safety and development.
Authorities believe these nighttime wanderings are exposing young people to dangerous behaviours, particularly the abuse of illicit substances like tramadol and cannabis—an increasing threat in communities such as Tamale and Yendi.
Parents were strongly cautioned to take responsibility for their children’s whereabouts during nighttime hours, with the Regional Minister warning that those who fail to do so could face punitive consequences. The new measure, REGSEC suggests, is as much about parental accountability as it is about child protection.
This isn’t the region’s first attempt to confront child delinquency. In 2017, a similar campaign under the “Tamale Project” was launched to address youth misconduct and drug abuse. While it led to the arrest of hundreds of children in its early days, the initiative was marred by criticism over lack of stakeholder consultation, particularly accusations levelled at then-Mayor Mr Superior.
This time, the regional leadership is opting for a more inclusive approach. In a recent visit to the region, Interior Minister Muntaka Mubarak met with traditional leaders, religious figures, and local stakeholders to build consensus around the broader effort to tackle rising social vices.
The current initiative signals a renewed commitment to community-led discipline and child protection in the Northern Region.
