Kayayei phenomenon must be addressed through migration, inequality and development — Prof Opoku-Agyemang
Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has called for a broader approach to addressing the challenges facing kayayei, stressing the need to tackle the underlying factors that push women and girls into head-portering in urban centres.
She said government interventions must go beyond skills training to address issues including migration, inequality, exploitation and the lack of sustainable economic opportunities.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang made the call when she received a delegation from the Kayayei Association, led by the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, on Monday, August 10.
“The kayayei phenomenon must be understood within the broader context of migration, inequality and development. There are push and pull factors that drive people to leave our communities, and we must address the underlying conditions that leave them vulnerable upon arrival in our cities,” she wrote in a social media post after the meeting.
According to the Vice President, skills development remains important but must be based on the aspirations of the women rather than assumptions about the professions or trades they should pursue.
She said training programmes should also be linked to the tools, capital and opportunities needed for beneficiaries to turn their skills into sustainable livelihoods.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang further expressed concern about the circumstances of children living within kayayei communities, saying their welfare must remain central to long-term interventions.
She also called for stronger measures to protect women from exploitation as government works with relevant institutions to develop a more holistic response to the phenomenon.
“Training must have a clear purpose and be linked to the tools, capital and opportunities that enable beneficiaries to translate their skills into sustainable livelihoods,” she added.