In a significant move to uplift the socio-economic status of head porters, commonly known as ‘kayayei,’ Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia inaugurated an ultra-modern hostel facility in Accra. This multi-purpose facility not only provides housing but also offers vocational training, fulfilling a government promise to address the pressing needs of kayayei.
“It was a great pleasure this afternoon in Accra, as I commissioned a multi-purpose hostel facility for head porters (Kayayei), as well as a training programme, the Kayayei Empowerment Programme, for them,” Dr. Bawumia announced during the ceremony.
The new residential and training center is located in Madina and Ashaiman and is part of a broader initiative to impact over 100,000 kayayei across the country. Additional centers are under construction in Kumasi and Techiman.
“The commissioning of the ultra-modern residential facility and training center is in fulfillment of a promise I made to the head porters on behalf of the government when I visited their hub in Agbogbloshie, Accra, to greet them,” Dr. Bawumia noted. “With the government adding a training programme to the residential facility, we have moved beyond addressing their pressing needs to offering them transitional job pathways to enhance their socio-economic status.”
The Vice President, who is also the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), emphasized the comprehensive nature of the Kayayei Empowerment Programme. This initiative aims to transform the lives of head porters by providing vocational training in skills such as baking and beading, along with soft skills training in personal healthcare, financial management, and entrepreneurial acumen.
“This multifaceted programme, culminating in the selection of an initial cohort of 5,000 head porters over the past three weeks, immerses participants in transformative learning experiences,” Dr. Bawumia explained. “Crucially, the provision of post-training support and the implementation of a track and trace module serve as a linchpin for the programme’s efficacy, with participants receiving starter packs to ensure beneficiaries do not return to being head porters.”
The initial phase of the training aims to reach 5,000 head porters, starting with batches of 600 beneficiaries at the Madina and Ashaiman hostel facilities. This initiative marks a significant step towards providing sustainable livelihood opportunities and improving the living conditions of kayayei in Ghana.
