The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Hon. Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, has held a courtesy meeting with the Executive Director and Co‑Founder of the Or Foundation, Ms. Liz Ricketts, and her team to discuss possible areas of collaboration to improve the welfare of vulnerable women, particularly those engaged in head‑carrying (kayayei).
Welcoming the delegation, Dr. Lartey commended the Foundation for its commitment to improving the lives of vulnerable women and promoting sustainable livelihood opportunities. She reaffirmed the Ministry’s readiness to work with organisations whose interventions align with government efforts to enhance women’s economic empowerment, child protection, and social inclusion.
Ms. Ricketts presented an overview of the Foundation’s work in Kantamanto Market, highlighting interventions in environmental justice, community development, and economic empowerment. She noted that more than 300 women have been supported to transition out of dangerous head‑carrying through skills development, paid apprenticeships, healthcare support, and business start‑up assistance.
The Foundation also shared findings from its research on the health effects of head‑carrying, warning that prolonged carrying of heavy loads can result in serious and irreversible spinal injuries. It further outlined its Mabulu Programme, which provides scholarships, vocational training, and entrepreneurship support to enable women to build sustainable livelihoods.
In addition, the team highlighted its innovative textile recycling initiative, which converts waste from Kantamanto Market into new products while creating employment opportunities for programme beneficiaries. A beneficiary shared her personal journey, recounting how financial difficulties led her into head‑carrying after relocating to Accra, and how the Foundation’s intervention equipped her with skills and renewed hope for a better future.
Dr. Lartey welcomed the Foundation’s integrated approach to addressing the challenges facing kayayei and underscored the importance of partnerships in expanding opportunities for vulnerable women and girls. She stressed that collaboration between government and development partners remains essential in promoting sustainable livelihoods and improving the well‑being of disadvantaged groups.
Both parties expressed their commitment to engage further and explore practical areas of collaboration to advance the welfare and economic empowerment of vulnerable women in Ghana.
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