Bawumia Commissions Multi-Purpose ‘Kayayei’ Hostel

The Vice President and presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has commissioned an ultra-modern hostel facility as well as a skills training and empowerment centre in Accra for  head porters, locally called “Kayayei”.

The multi-purpose facilities, located in Madina and Ashaiman in the Greater Accra Region, is in fulfillment of a promise by Dr. Bawumia on behalf of the  government in 2019 to head porters.

During a visit to them in Agbogbloshie, the Vice President promised to provide them with a decent place of accommodation in order to take them off the streets.

Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Bawumia expressed delight in commissioning the hostel and launching a training programme to address the plight of the marginalized girls and improve their living conditions.

“I am honoured to be part of this initiative dedicated to empowering head porters, offering transitional job pathways and enhancing their socio-economic status. It is a cause close to my heart as it addresses the plight of a marginalized segment of our society”, Dr Bawumia said.

He added; “This noble endeavour resonates profoundly with the core values of our mission as it squarely addresses the pressing needs of a marginalized segment of our society that has long been relegated to the shadows of neglect and indifference.”

The NPP flagbearer noted that statistics shows there are over 100,000 head porters in Ghana and believed this facility and training opportunity will significantly help them.

“From the harsh realities of homelessness to the glaring deficiencies in access to adequate healthcare and the pervasive scourge of urban harassment, their plight stands as a stark testament to the moral imperative of urgent intervention to uplift and transform their lives.”

Hostel

Government intends to build two more hostels in addition to the two newly-commissioned facilities in Madina and Ashaiman.

Each hostel is equipped with 300 beds, training rooms, kitchen, a clinic among others.

Dr. Bawumia expressed gratitude to a number of agencies for their collaborative efforts in ensuring the completion of these hostel facilities.

The agencies included the Ghana Enterprises Agency  (GEA), National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP),  Youth Employment Agency (YEA),  Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET), Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF),

Ghana Gas and BOST as well as theFather Campbell Foundation and BEST also contributed.

Leadership of the Kayayei girls who attended the event symbolically carrying their head pans, expressed their profound gratitude to Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for this intervention.

Kayayei Empowerment Programme

Dr. Bawumia noted that government’s concern is not only to provide decent accommodation to the head porters but to also empower them to be self-employed to prevent them from returning to the streets.

As a result, the government has added a Kayayei Empowerment Center and rolled a programme to train them.

“This multi-faceted program is characterized by a rigorous and exhaustive recruitment process, culminating in the selection of initial training cohorts comprising 5,000 head porters. Over the span of three weeks, participants will be immersed in a transformative learning experience, encompassing essential modules such as baking and beading, supplemented by invaluable soft skills training in personal health care, financial management and entrepreneurial acumen”, he stated.

He continued; “Crucially, the provision of post-training support and implementation of a track and trace model serves as the linchpin of the program’s efficacy with participants receiving starter packs tailored to facilitate their seamless integration into new economic opportunities and further ensure that beneficiaries do not return to being head porters.” 

 

Source: Ghmessenger.com