Vice President Jane Naana Opoku‑Agyemang has received a delegation from the Kayayei Association, led by the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Hon. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, to discuss the challenges facing head porters and explore interventions to improve their livelihoods.
The engagement built on previous conversations that have deepened understanding of the experiences of kayayei, including concerns about exploitation, access to skills training, opportunities to establish sustainable businesses, and the welfare of women and children.
Vice President Opoku‑Agyemang stressed that the kayayei phenomenon must be understood within the broader context of migration, inequality, and development. She noted that both push and pull factors drive people to leave their communities, making it necessary to address the underlying conditions that leave them vulnerable upon arrival in cities.
She emphasised that while skills development remains important, interventions must be informed by the aspirations of the women themselves. Training, she explained, must have a clear purpose and be linked to the tools, capital, and opportunities needed to translate skills into sustainable livelihoods.
The Vice President also expressed particular concern about the circumstances of children in these communities, stressing that their welfare must remain central to any long‑term intervention, alongside stronger measures to protect women from exploitation.
She commended the Ministry and the Kayayei Association for their continued engagement and reaffirmed government’s commitment to developing a more holistic response that creates opportunities, strengthens protection, and enables every person to realise their full potential.
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