Young homeless first-time voter, Maa Afia, has revealed how an impulsive decision taken by her father to after a heated argument pushed her into prostitution.

According to Maa Afia, her father was the only consistent parent in her life as her biological mother struggled with mental illness and was mostly absent. Her father later married another woman who did not buy into the idea of sharing her new husband with a stepdaughter. She endured maltreatment at home and could not handle it anymore. After her father mercilessly hit her with a belt, she reported him to the police and was shortly sacked from home to fend for herself.

Speaking to Lois Shola Adeyemi on this week's episode of 'Just Turned 18', she revealed that after her countless search for a decent job proved futile, the street of Kwame Nkrumah became her hope and prostitution her only source of income.

"My dad sacked me after I reported him to the police. Now I prostitute to get money and to be honest, its not lucrative. There is no job to do and Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) is constantly on our case. They recently burnt my belongings and I lost my Ghana Card and National Health Insurance card. If I fall sick, the hospital will charge me and I will not be able to afford it," she revealed.

Maa Afia further explained that although prostitution is her only source of income, she is unable to make enough to afford a three square meal and a place to lay her head at the end of the day. However, she has resorted to sleeping under footbridges and in front of stores. This she explains exposes her to many dangers and wide array of health issues.

Often times, these young and women are forced to stop sleeping under footbridges and in front of stores by political and administrative authorities.

Unlike Maa Afia, first-time voters, Ama and Aisha decided own their own to leave their homes and hustle on the streets of Kwame Nkrumah circle to fend for their families. According to them, the harsh living conditions of their families back home moved them to the street. The believe that street life will provide them enough income to fend for their struggling families is enough to keep them going. 

They admitted that although their families are not comfortable with the path they have chosen, the street feeds the and that is all that matters.

"My parents have asked me to come back home but if I go home, I will be sad.

At least I am able to get small money for them through my job on the street.

There is no way I will go back home" Ama explained.

"My mum lives in America and I haven't seen her since I was little. I speak to my father all the time and he begs me to come home but I refuse. I always want to help him and my siblings that is why I am hustling on the street," Aisha revealed.

Isaac also left home after the ruling party put a ban on galamsey and mining activities in his community. This made it very difficult to fend for his family, as it was their only source of income. He moved to Accra in search of a decent job but was hit with harsh reality and ended up on the street

Wisdom, Kojo and Yaw left their families to Accra promising not to return home till they have made enough money to take their families out of their financial constraints but this dream of theirs is gradually dwindling as they are unable to make enough for themselves talk less of saving for their families.

These first time voters recounted how political parties have paid them on countless occasions to join their rallies, promising to build training facilities and a stable roof over their heads. These parties tend to forget about them after the rallies and are unable to fulfil their promises constantly crashing the dreams of these young ones. This has caused many first time voters on the street to lose interest in exercising the franchise for the first time.

They have shared their struggles and are hoping that government will meet their needs and wants. This according them, is the only way they will rally behind a party and hopefully vote in the 2024 elections. Life on the street is drenched with problems and dangers these first-time voters believe government and political parties can solve.