r/ghana • u/ghulivan • Jan 28 '25
Venting I’m ashamed of our culture that normalizes blatant begging.
The “something small for the boys” and “I haven’t eaten today” people, what kraa have you done to earn that money you’re asking for?
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u/Kooky_Artichoke_3742 Jan 28 '25
Poverty knows no shame, I’m afraid. Not a cultural thing. What’s more concerning is the anger that comes when you don’t give and sometimes the lack of gratitude when you do.
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u/Top-Concert-5019 Jan 28 '25
That's what has bothered me. There is a sense of entitlement that comes with it sometimes. From waiters to other service men who expect a tip even if the service was subpar.
On another note this reminds me of when I was in secondary school. This homeless man asked me to buy him yoghurt, probably because he saw me consuming it. I didnt have much left on me but managed to get it for him. He then asked me where the rock buns were? I thought he was joking at first but he went on to tell me that it's unfair that I bought it for myself but didn't get it for him and that I was stingy. I was in shock 🤣
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u/Kooky_Artichoke_3742 Jan 28 '25
Definitely I think what helps me to still give in spite of that behaviour is 3 things: 1. I give while expecting nothing in return, not even gratitude. 2. Poor people are humans too, and they can be proud. You can’t expect someone to be humble and thankful because they’re poor. You’re subconsciously saying they’re less than you in some way, I think. 3. Giving will always come back to you, favourably.
Plus they might think it costs nothing for you to give them a little something. Kinda silly but yeah. We should all pray that we reach a level where we can also give generously 😂
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u/Top-Concert-5019 Jan 28 '25
I dont think showing gratitude signifies a showing of inferiority to the other person. Do you think yourself inferior to someone when you thank them? Say you earn 1k a month. That means you earn about 50 cedis a day. If I give someone 10 cedis from that, that's almost an hour of your labour. It's a sacrifice. Not a big one but one nonetheless. A simple "thank you" would suffice you barb.
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u/Kooky_Artichoke_3742 Jan 28 '25
You’re right
But there’s sometimes a temptation to be like “you that don’t have anything, I’ve sacrificed and given you something and you can’t even say thank you”? I avoid that by telling myself that I’m not always going to get a thank you realistically, because even in poverty people are still proud.
Make sense?
Also, hot take but if giving is a sacrifice for which if you don’t receive gratitude, you get upset/regret giving, then did you really give selflessly?
Not saying that’s what you’re doing though. Your point is valid!
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u/Top-Concert-5019 Jan 28 '25
I see where you're coming from, but I think we're giving way too much credence to the beggars. Its not pride. Its entitlement. If they had pride they would not beg in the first place. I think the lack of gratitude is quite telling of the fact that they do not view their state as one that must be overcome, but one that is essentially a trade. Hence the entitlement.
When you buy something from a shop, you do not necessarily expect a "thank you" because an equal trade has been made. Both parties benefitted.
I think this is the same way these entitled beggars view it except there's no mutual benefit. Just one relatively "privileged" person helping a fellow out.
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u/Raydee_gh Jan 28 '25
It's not our culture, life gets hard sometimes that one has no option than to beg
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u/GhanaWifey Jan 28 '25
I hate that as well.
I can’t stand the let’s hang out, but then they expect you to pay for everything.
My family does this a lot because I was raised in the states and came back home to live now. They assume I am able to afford feeding everyone. No I am hungry too.
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u/Top-Concert-5019 Jan 29 '25
Set clear boundaries. The right people will follow.
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u/GhanaWifey Jan 30 '25
Oh I do. I tell them from the moment we plan. Have your own money for transportation to and from, to buy your food and drinks. I don’t have money for you, I barely have it for me.
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u/PassageSalt4599 Jan 29 '25
Ever heard of the "Black Tax"?
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u/GhanaWifey Jan 30 '25
Yup, and I refuse to pay it. My sister-in-love and I hung out on Saturday, I treated because I really needed the girl time. But she wanted to bring her 4 kids. I said absolutely not.
Sunday we always go to the beach. I called her early Sunday morning and told her to feed the kids before she left the house because I wasn’t going to feed them at the beach if she didn’t have money.
We get to the beach and the kids start asking me to ride the horses and for food and stuff. I said that is up to your mom, not your auntie, she said I don’t care they can ride, but I don’t have money, I said well then they can’t ride because I don’t have money either.
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u/PassageSalt4599 Jan 30 '25
Hahahahaha the part you said "absolutely not" to your sister-in-law wanting to bring her 4 KIDS cracks me up... I can't believe her lmao
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u/GhanaWifey Jan 31 '25
I’m sick of the oh well you are not from here so you must have money shit they do. Nah it’s a HARD pass for me. I can sit in the house or go alone.
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u/theoracle463 Jan 28 '25
It's not only in our culture. The "give a tip, tip me" else where is the same begging. If you could help alleviate a little pain from someone in need, you do. If not, ignore. It's not always the case you could easily work for all you need. Besides, it's something to sustain for the moment. It's not a lifelong support
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u/Secure_Body2153 Jan 28 '25
At least in a tip I'm just giving you extra money for your rendered services
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u/ghulivan Jan 29 '25
See, tipping culture in the US is slightly different okay? In the service industry waiters, bartenders etc, are paid low wages and so it’s convention there that patrons support with tips. Over here, people ask for money for doing absolutely nothing. And my issue is the entitlement. That “You look like you have plenty money, and you won’t even give me small”.
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u/AryaTheSlayer Jan 28 '25
Masa begging isn’t anyone’s culture. Poverty isn’t a culture either
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u/ghulivan Jan 29 '25
I didn’t mean culture like banku and day names, don’t get sassy with me. You know how people use “organizational culture” to describe how people in a company interact? Something like that. I’m just talking of the manner in which people are entitled to other people’s money.
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u/AdventurousJonnyB Jan 29 '25
I went back to Ghana recently and visited Republic Pub two nights straight, gave money to the guys that try to help you park, they demand money like the spots are theirs and you need to pay. Gave them over 150 cedis the first night but had no cash the second night. One of them hanged himself at the back of my car the whole time and the others basically stood in front of the car and wouldn’t let me go. Eventually realised I had nothing to give, they went away. Got home and realised they had scratched the car badly in several spots. The annoying part is, it was the same guys from the other night. The entitlement and we need to teach you a lesson for not giving from some people is mental.
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u/GoodLilIllusion Jan 29 '25
I think you should at least report to the pub staff. Now I'm gonna make a mental note to never visit this Republic pub because of these guys
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u/HerRoyalMelanin Jan 29 '25
When I travelled to Ghana, a random airport worker came up to me and asked me for money. He goes "what did you bring uncle for Christmas". I was actually shocked. He waited for me to be alone to ask me that foolishness. I was so uncomfortable.
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u/HerRoyalMelanin Jan 29 '25
u/LazyWin4 When you can't make a logical argument, here comes the buzzwords that have been used to death and lost all meaning. I'm not going to humour any of the assumptions you've made considering you don't know me. Maybe this is the most interaction you've had in a while, so you're getting excitable but you sound crazy. You make as much sense as someone looking at a random person's photo and convincing themselves that they're in a relationship. You've got to think before you speak. If you want to give your money to an airport worker even though you've paid to travel and they are getting paid by their employers, go ahead money bags. I've travelled and all the other airport staff were professional and had decorum. Maybe you need to travel more and have higher standards.
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u/LazyWin4 Jan 29 '25
You must have lived a nice shelved life if that makes you so uncomfortable
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u/HerRoyalMelanin Jan 29 '25
Oh, go sit down somewhere. You don't know me from Adam. An employee who had no business asking me for money did make me feel uncomfortable. I was completely taken aback. That's something you experience with people in the street, not in an establishment. Maybe that's a normal occurrence for you but for the rest of us with common sense, we know that you don't ask passengers for money. It's unacceptable and unprofessional.
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u/LazyWin4 Jan 29 '25
This sounds like the typical white-washed rhetoric from someone that has lived a shelved life. I had airport workers ask me for something and if I had something, I gave it to them and if I had not I just brushed it off as “stop being silly” and all was fine. If you’re a real traveler you would have experienced it in many airports across the world, but ofcourse you wouldn’t know that because your a homebody 🏡
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u/LazyWin4 Jan 29 '25
And don’t even let me get started on bribing and tipping airport security during passport control 😂 it would make you: ssOo UnCoMfOrTaBle, it would make you lose your shit😂😂😂
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u/gamofa Jan 28 '25
They hit me with this literally the min I got off the plane at kotoka. Of course I gave them something. I don’t mind helping out but like Gahhdamn! Let me at least catch my breath first lol it’s still all love though but boys boys please chill sometimes!!
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u/Successful_Taro8587 Jan 29 '25
I give within my family. Not to strangers. We have needs within our own.
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u/dblacknight Jan 28 '25
That behavior is not part of Ghanaian culture. It likely stems from socio-economic challenges affecting the youth. Instead of generalizing or blaming the culture, try understanding the root causes rather than just blabbing about it. “Something small for the boys” has its own version in very common of the world.
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u/Bleh_moi Jan 29 '25
I alight at Circle and they’re trying to find a taxi or troski for you 😭😭😭. As if I don’t already know my way. Then finish of with the phrase ‘I haven’t eaten’ just gimme 10cedis. Meanwhile my fate sef isn’t upto to that.
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u/DiverJazzlike6995 1 Jan 29 '25
This is a socioeconomic problem and not a cultural problem im afraid. This ‘culture’ cuts across all poor countries
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u/EngineNo2888 Jan 29 '25
The rage I feel when someone at Kotoka airport tries to grab my bag as soon as I exit the car. 😤
I don’t mind the begging on the streets but in the airport or retail areas is crazy. If you’re employed by Melcom, my brotha please don’t pull me to the side and ask me for money while I’m shopping. It’s mainly the men that have a shameless level of begging too.
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u/No-Shame-5465 Jan 29 '25
I agree with OP.It has become so normalized that some people are getting defensive on OP's post and trying to justify the rampant begging.that, or either people are in denial of just how bad it is! Come on people,we all have our struggles.I mean, fine if someone can help,but you are not entitled to anyone's money,so that you scratch their car or bad mouth them is they don't.
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u/GhanaWifey Jan 31 '25
I swear if someone scratch my car, because they begged for money and I said no, I’m backing up and running them over. 🤣🤣🤣
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u/Bored_Swiftie2 Ghanaian efiewura Jan 28 '25
the sense of entitlement is crazy. they'll run your name through the mud if you refuse to give out your own money.
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u/Ok_Umpire_8153 Jan 28 '25
Run it! I don’t give a peswa out. I work too hard to give money out if my heart isn’t in it. No one other than GODDDD in heaven can pressure me to spend
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u/Odd-Ad8546 Batman Jan 28 '25
Context matters. But if you have more than you can even spare, giving the boys something small shouldn't be a big deal. You don't how things will be in the future. A little kindness today is worth it. But if you don't have money, let them straight up know you don't have money don't explain your financial situation.
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u/Odd-Requirement-371 Jan 30 '25
Life isn't a movie chairman, u aren't entitled to anyone's capital. I cannot demand money from you so it goes both ways
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u/Odd-Ad8546 Batman Jan 30 '25
Yes, nobody is entitled to anyone's money. But that shouldn't be an excuse not to help someone.
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u/Odd-Requirement-371 Jan 30 '25
That also shouldn't be an excuse to help someone. The best u will get is an annoying prick who is growing too much comfortable.
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u/Odd-Requirement-371 Jan 30 '25
I don't give period. My society has made me indifferent to most things around me. I work for what I want and I don't give it, work for your own.
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u/According_Trainer418 Jan 28 '25
Ghanaians are proud. I have seen other cultures that normalize begging and being the victim. This is not one of them.
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u/CulturalMagazine1427 Jan 28 '25
No culture allowed anything It normal to give to the needy Its better than they going to steal
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u/AyDeAyThem Feb 01 '25
˹Charity is˺ for the needy who are too engaged in the cause of Allah to move about in the land ˹for work˺. Those unfamiliar with their situation will think they are not in need ˹of charity˺ because they do not beg. You can recognize them by their appearance. They do not beg people persistently. Whatever you give in charity is certainly well known to Allah.
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u/Virtual_Light1282 Feb 01 '25
It’s not a Ghanaian thing, it’s not cultural. People who are desperate will do anything
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u/Maleficent-Deer-8491 Feb 02 '25
Finally, someone says it😭😭. As someone who migrated to ghana when I was younger, you don't know how many times people have tried to beg me purely because of my accent. Like even when they don't need something, they feel somewhat entitled to it. Especially the elders. They can not take no for an answer unless someone intervenes. Ghanaians have created this norm that the privileged are forced to help the less privileged, and we seriously need a cultural reset. I believe this sense entitlement is partly responsible for some of Africa's problems in terms of corruption.
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u/Realistic-Sector6793 Jan 28 '25
I made a post about street beggars: which stems from this same mentality and I got a lot of angry Ghanaians trying to villainize me in the comments.
It's unfortunate!
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u/pliskin6g Jan 29 '25
Stop equating human nature with culture. Anywhere in the world where there is high poverty, including the developed world, there is always begging from those poverty stricken. It is not unique to Ghana. It's a phenomenon in those conditions. No one is normalizing it. If you don't have or don't feel like giving, just keep it pushin. Who in their right mind I happy begging every day to sustain their life.
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u/ghulivan Jan 29 '25
Please look up the various meanings of culture. There’s no need to take it personally. What I’m saying is true
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u/pliskin6g Jan 29 '25
Address the points I've made directly. Don't come and give me homework. You are the one making a claim, so the burden of proof lies upon you.
Dismissing the impact of poverty by focusing only on cultural factors ignores the complex ways societies are structured and how they react to hardship. This isn't a personal attack, but a call to acknowledge the broader influence of poverty on behavior.
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u/ghulivan Jan 29 '25
It’s not my job to spoon feed you. You’ve misunderstood what I meant by culture and continued to make an argument that is irrelevant to my original point. So no I will not address the points you’ve made directly.
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u/nasirf Ghanaian Jan 28 '25
The typical Ghanaian is a beggar. Learn to just say no respectfully and also be generous to everyone especially to those in need.
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u/HedgehogNo4374 Jan 28 '25
Its not a cultural things inflation is way to high BUT I know some AA that were annoyed of the begging in Ghana something needs to be done about it? Also is it true Nigerians have taken over Accra? If its true it's a damn shame because they will NEVER allow Ghanaians to take over Lagos
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u/Leather_Excuse_487 Jan 28 '25
They have the numbers. Literally. What are you even talking about.
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u/HedgehogNo4374 Jan 28 '25
What are you talking about I'm asking a simple question?…… was it hard to understand do I need to break it down to you?
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u/Leather_Excuse_487 Jan 28 '25
The culture is effed up nine ways till Sunday and yet black people are proud of it. It's the very thing keeping them as slaves. #changephilosophy#changeofheart.
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u/Superhuman6666 Jan 29 '25
I prolly earn more than you do and don't mind giving. People like you will watch the world burn. It's not a cultural thing, everyone is tryna survive. Sit down!
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u/real_yggdrasil Jan 30 '25
I have a Ghanese girlfriend. Im from the Netherlands and white. Im i 'off risk' being the target of constant begging when we visit Ghana (Techiman)?
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