Gov’t builds 2,000-capacity hostel for ‘Kayayei’ at Sepe-Buokrom
The Minister of Gender, Child and Social Protection, Otiko Afisa Djaba has commissioned a 2,000-capacity hostel facility at Sepe-Buokrom for female head porters (Kayayei) and the most vulnerable in society.
Otiko Afisa Djaba who visited the area to interact with the Kayayei for their welfare, also inspected and inaugurated the facility over the weekend.
According to the Minister, the Government of Ghana has, through a public-private partnership, built the hostel facility for itinerant female load carriers (Kayayei) in the Ashanti Region in line with government’s commitment to ending the plight of Kayayei in the next five years.
Hon Otiko Afisa Djaba indicated that efforts are being made by her ministry to end head pottering by young ladies, who are known as ‘Kayayei’ in the local parlance.
According to Madam Otiko Djaba, the ministry had developed various programmes and interventions to deal with the kayayei phenomenon.
The programmes, she said, include “a five-year Strategic Plan to eradicate kakayei” which was being developed with the support of UNFPA.
She disclosed, “A mapping of kayayei is ongoing in the major markets across the country to gather data to inform decision-making.”
The minister averred, “The ministry is working with GRATIS Foundation and KNUST to manufacture robust trolleys for kayayei. We also plan to link these vulnerable women to smallholder farming through the ‘Planting for Food and Jobs’ initiative.
Source: Ghana/otecfmghana.com
