The Minister-designate for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, has said the welfare of head porters, locally known as “kayayei”, is a top-priority issue for the current government.
Ofori-Atta said that the government will initiate measures to improve the well-being of head porters across Ghana.
Taking his turn to appear before Parliament‘s appointments committee on Thursday (25 March), Ofori-Atta said the government is embarking on a string of investments in the Northern regions of Ghana to improve the livelihoods of people in that part of the country, in order to prevent mass migration to the south.
“The welfare of kayayei is important to us. Our investment in the North, like irrigation and agriculture, is to reverse this trend of kayayei and it is top of our agenda,” Ofori-Atta said.
Hostels project
He was responding to questions by the MP for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, on the state of the government’s plans to build hostels for kayayei in conurbations.
Ofori-Atta acknowledged that kayayei are one of the most vulnerable groups residing in the national capital, and therefore require attention. He said there is an urgent need to support such groups in the long term to enhance their living conditions.
He offered assurances that, to tackle the menace, the government is developing a multi-sectoral policy, among other measures, to help resolve the problem going into the future.
He also said that the government welcomes suggestions from well-meaning Ghanaians to help improve the women’s living conditions.
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