The Local Government Ministry has revealed that the Akufo Addo led government has started the construction of hostel facilities for head porters popularly known as ‘Kayayei’ as promised by the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Prior to the 2016 General Election, then-candidate Nana Akufo-Addo promised to build hostel facilities for ‘kayayie’ in order to afford them decent accommodation. The initiative, was among numerous campaign promises by Mr. Nana Akufo-Addo before his government was voted into power in 2016.

Presenting the 2020 budget statement in Parliament, the Finance Minister, Hon Kenneth Ofori Atta, reiterated the government’s commitment to fulfilling that promise by constructing a 600-bed kayayie hostel facility at Agbogbloshie in Accra.

“Mr. Speaker I am happy to announce that preparations are now complete and the construction of the first 600-bed kayayei hostel will commence in Agbogbloshie next month to provide accommodation and skills training to these vulnerable young women.”
Ofori Atta

However, some Ghanaians did not agree with the initiative and urged the government to find a better way of alleviating the hardships of the head potters instead of building hostels to accommodate them.

The then-President John Mahama described Akufo-Addo’s promise as insulting and asked him to find a better way of bringining an end to the hardships of the head potters.

Speaking in an interview, Hon Augustine Collins Ntim, the Deputy Local Government Minister, made known that construction of a similar facility has begun in Suame in Ashanti Region.

“In the round up to elections, we promised our brothers and sisters from the northern regions who work in Accra and Kumasi as head porters a decent hostel accommodation for them. The construction has already begun at Suame, but it is delayed. So the government has appointed me to oversee its progress.”
Mr Ntim

Mr. Ntim disclosed that mobilization fees have already been paid to the contractors whom he expects to speed up construction. “We have begun the construction which some are at an advanced stage so I want to go and see for myself the stage it has got to,” he emphasized.

Other hostels at Tafo, Asokore Manpong and Oforikrom are however yet to begin.

The project, according to Collins Ntim, is under the supervision of the Local Government Ministry.

Gov’t to set aside GH₵2m as seed capital for Kayayei

It will be recalled that President Akufo-Addo earlier in 2019, directed the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP) to give kayayei in the country an amount of GH₵2 million.

According to the Chief Executive of NEIP, Mr. John Kumah, the amount was to serve as seed capital for the head porters to be able to start their own businesses.

Mr. John Kumah noted that his outfit in collaboration with the Business Development Ministry was working to help transform the lives of head porters across the country.

The initiative is among numerous campaign promises by President Nana Akufo-Addo before his government was voted into power in 2016.

At night in many parts of Accra, many female head porters are seen sleeping in open spaces and this makes them vulnerable to the vagaries of the environment and violence from acquaintances and strangers.

These female head porters (kayayo) often come from distant rural communities in search for greener pastures in the urban areas. And they have to endure varied experiences as they climb the ladder of life.