Vice President engages Kayayei association on challenges facing head porters

On Monday, August 10, 2026, Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang met with a delegation from the Kayayei Association to discuss measures for improving the livelihoods of head porters. The discussion, led by Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, centered on issues like exploitation, limited access to skills training, establishing sustainable businesses, and the welfare of women and children in kayayei communities.

The Vice President underscored that the kayayei phenomenon must be understood in the context of broader migration, inequality, and development. She noted that both "push" and "pull" factors contribute to people moving from their communities to urban centers, necessitating interventions that address the underlying conditions that leave them vulnerable upon arrival.

Vice President Opoku-Agyemang emphasized that while skills development is important, such initiatives must align with the aspirations and needs of the women themselves. She stressed that training programs should have a clear purpose, accompanied by the necessary tools, capital, and opportunities to enable beneficiaries to transform their skills into sustainable livelihoods.

Concerned about the welfare of children living within kayayei communities, the Vice President called for stronger measures to protect women from exploitation, alongside creating opportunities that would allow them to boost their economic circumstances. She praised the Ministry for Gender, Children and Social Protection and the Kayayei Association for their ongoing engagement, reaffirming the government's commitment to developing a more comprehensive approach to the kayayei situation, aimed at creating opportunities, strengthening protection, and supporting vulnerable individuals to achieve their full potential.