Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has called for a broader and more sustainable approach to addressing the challenges facing head porters, popularly known as Kayayei. She stated that interventions must extend beyond skills training to include sustainable livelihoods, protection from exploitation, and improved welfare for children living within Kayayei communities. This significant call was made on Monday, August 10, 2026, during a meeting with representatives of the Kayayei Association at the Jubilee House.
The meeting focused on the severe challenges confronting head porters and explored measures to improve their livelihoods. These measures include access to skills training, sustainable business opportunities, and social protection. Professor Opoku-Agyemang stressed that the Kayayei phenomenon must be understood within the broader context of migration, inequality, and national development. It should not be treated as an isolated social issue.
The Vice President noted that several economic and social factors compel women and girls to leave their communities. They migrate to urban centres in search of opportunities, often leading them into head-porting work. This internal migration pattern is a long-standing issue in Ghana, with many young women from the northern regions moving south for economic survival. The lack of viable economic prospects in their home regions drives this movement, creating a vulnerable population in urban areas.
Professor Opoku-Agyemang highlighted that while skills training remains important, such interventions must reflect the aspirations of the women. These programs also require support with the necessary tools, capital, and market opportunities. These resources are crucial for turning newly acquired skills into sustainable sources of income. She emphasized that training without the necessary resources and access to markets may not be sufficient to break the cycle of economic vulnerability confronting many Kayayei.
The economic implications of this issue are substantial. The Kayayei contribute to the informal economy, but their vulnerability often leads to exploitation and poor working conditions. Addressing their plight through sustainable livelihoods can boost their economic participation and reduce the burden on social services. It also has the potential to improve urban planning and public health outcomes.
Professor Opoku-Agyemang also raised concerns about children living within Kayayei communities. She asserted that their welfare and protection must form an integral part of government and stakeholder interventions. These interventions aim to address the entire phenomenon, ensuring a safer environment for these vulnerable children. The Vice President further called for measures to protect head porters from exploitation and other vulnerabilities associated with their working and living conditions.
The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and the Kayayei Association received commendation from the Vice President for their continued engagement on this critical issue. She assured the group that the government would work with relevant institutions to develop a broader response. This response will address both the immediate needs and the long-term livelihoods of head porters. This engagement is part of ongoing efforts to find more sustainable solutions to the social and economic challenges that drive women and girls into head-porting work in urban centres. The long-term economic stability of these women and their families is a key objective.