This article describes how, in Ghana, government officials report that more than 60,000 children are currently living and working on the streets of major urban centres, a situation described as a national emergency due to its links with deepening child poverty and multidimensional deprivation. The vice president highlighted that many of these children are denied basic services such as healthcare, education, shelter and legal identity through birth registration, leaving them highly vulnerable to exploitation, abuse and long-term harm. She called for urgent, coordinated action by government, civil society and communities to ensure that every child can grow up safe, healthy and educated, stressing that the issue stems from interconnected social and economic challenges that require collective solutions.