A five-year strategic plan has been launched in Accra to provide all street-children and young persons access to services to grow in a safe and nurturing environment to help them become responsible persons in societies. Dubbed: "Five-Year Strategic Plan on Street-Connected Children and Young Person (2024-2028)", the plan also seeks to empower them through a comprehensive rehabilitation approach. The plan launched at the week­end was developed by the Depart­ment of Social Welfare under the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP). The United Nations Children's Fund defines street children as "Any girl or boy between the age of 0 and 18 years found on the street for whom the street (in the widest sense of the word, includes unoccupied dwellings, wasteland, etc.) has become his or her habitual abode and/or source of livelihood; and who is inadequately protected, supervised, or directed by responsi­ble adults". Speaking at the launch on Friday, the sector Minister, Ms Dakoa Newman said the plan was aimed at addressing the multifaceted chal­lenges faced by street-connected children and young persons, which had become a crisis that demands immediate attention.