During the Parliamentary Vetting of the Northern Regional Minister-Designate, Hon. Ali John Adolf, the issue of young girls migrating from the northern regions to southern cities such as Accra, primarily to engage in menial jobs as head porters (commonly referred to as “kayayei”), came under scrutiny.
The nominee was asked by the Vetting Committee about specific policy initiatives he would implement to address this social phenomenon, which has led to challenges such as teenage pregnancies, unsafe living conditions, and various forms of exploitation. He remarked;
“Mr. Chairman, the ”kayayei” menace is a problem that has not started today. And I, as an incoming regional minister, have already started thinking about our brothers and sisters who find their way to Accra to do all sorts of menial jobs.”
Hon. Ali John Adolf Northern Regional Minister-Designate
He emphasized the importance of addressing the root causes of migration, particularly the economic hardships that push young girls and boys from the north to seek better opportunities in southern cities.
To curtail migration, the Minister-Designate stressed the need to make the northern region an attractive place for the youth. He stated;
“Mr. Chairman, the best I can do is, first of all, to make home a very attractive place so that we don’t get further girls and boys migrating from Tamale and for that matter the northern region, to any part of the south, not only in Accra.”
Hon. Ali John Adolf Northern Regional Minister-Designate
He proposed introducing initiatives that would equip young people with skills and provide opportunities within their home communities, thus reducing their need to migrate.
Skills Training and Empowerment Programs
Moreover, Hon. Ali John Adolf outlined a comprehensive plan to address the plight of young girls and boys who migrate to the South. He explained;
“Mr. Chairman, we shall initiate apprenticeship training. Those who are interested in becoming hairdressers, seamstresses, or entering petty trading will be supported with packages to help them start their ventures.”
Hon. Ali John Adolf Northern Regional Minister-Designate
The nominee highlighted the need to collaborate with district assemblies to provide vocational tools such as sewing machines and hairdryers to young people in their communities. He remarked:
“Mr. Chairman, for all you know, some of them come all the way from the north to Accra just because their target is to buy a sewing machine.”
Hon. Ali John Adolf Northern Regional Minister-Designate
By providing these tools and linking individuals to master craftsmen for skills training, the nominee hopes to address both economic hardships and the skills gap in the region.
Role of District Assemblies and Continuous Monitoring
Hon. Ali John Adolf placed significant emphasis on the role of district assemblies in tackling the issue. He stated;
“Mr. Chairman, I will ensure that all the district assemblies under me take it upon themselves to strictly address this issue. Every DCE at their level should do their best to stop the migration of young girls and boys from their respective districts to Accra.”
Hon. Ali John Adolf Northern Regional Minister-Designate
The nominee further assured that the program would not be a one-time initiative but a continuous effort. The nominee explained how these individuals would undergo training. He said;
“Mr. Chairman, as captured in our manifesto, if these individuals receive training, the government will take care of the costs. We will also motivate the master craftsmen by paying them according to the number of trainees they handle.”
Hon. Ali John Adolf Northern Regional Minister-Designate
This approach, he argued, would incentivize participation and ensure the sustainability of the initiative.
Hon. Ali John Adolf expressed optimism that the proposed initiatives would encourage young people who had already migrated to return to their home regions. He explained;
“Mr. Chairman, if people in Accra see that their colleagues back home now have sewing machines, hairdryers, or are attached to master craftsmen without paying anything because the government has taken over, I think most of them will find their way back.”
“Mr. Chairman, I will take this issue very seriously because sometimes when we hear what our own brothers and sisters go through in Yendi, it is very pathetic.”
Hon. Ali John Adolf Northern Regional Minister-Designate
He reiterated his commitment to ensuring that no child would feel the need to migrate due to lack of opportunities or support.
The Minister-Designate’ s response during his vetting demonstrated a clear understanding of the challenges posed by the “kayayei” phenomenon.
By focusing on vocational training, economic empowerment, and collaboration with district assemblies, Ali John Adolf outlined a multi-faceted approach aimed at addressing both the root causes and consequences of migration from the northern region.
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