Government to train 2,000 kayayei by end of 2019 -Dr. Mohammed Awal
The government will train a total of Two Thousand (2000) head porters locally referred to as ‘Kayayei’ before the end of the year, Business Development Minister, Hon. Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Awal disclosed on Tuesday.
Speaking at the meet-the-press series in the national capital to explain to Ghanaians what his ministry was doing regarding business development, the minister indicated his outfit has initiated a process to conduct needs assessment of the head porters.
Dr. Awal stated, “We are doing needs assessment, we are talking with them. As for the need’s assessment, we need to do it so that we can get the targeted people to roll them onto the programme.
We hope to commence the training of the head porters by the end of the year…probably by October or November.”
The training of the ‘Kayayei’, the minister emphasized is part of the entrepreneurship policy of the government to help the young ladies to improve their improve upon their business skills.
The Business Development Minister explained that the overall goal of the government’s entrepreneurship policy is to support economic growth through the development of entrepreneurship and innovation programmes that create more jobs, generate more income, and help to reduce poverty.
It also aims to create and strengthen an entrepreneurial environment.
Kayayei or Kaya Yei is a Ghanaian term that refers to a female porter or bearer with majority of them have migrating from rural communities, mainly from the northern parts of the country to any of the urban cities in search of work. They generally carry their burdens on their heads.
The young ladies, while in the urban centres live in slums and other deplorable conditions to ply their trade.
In its manifesto for Election 2016, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) said it maintains its commitment to a self-confident and prosperous nation, with a strong and thriving democratic society in which mutual trust and economic opportunities exist for all, irrespective of their background.
According to the document, the party, under ‘Women’s Empowerment & Children’s Rights, noted among others that “it will reduce the phenomenon of ‘Kayayei’ (female porters) by improving the economy of their districts of origin to curb the migration and providing alternate life skills training and seed capital to them.”
The ruling party then in opposition also emphasized that “it will also partner the private sector, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and charity organisations to provide temporary hostel facilities and work with the district assemblies to exempt ‘Kayayei’ from market tolls and taxes currently imposed on them, and improve their access to education and health care.”