Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Edward Doe Adjaho has directed that the Minister for Gender and Social Protection, Nana Oye Lithur should appear before Parliament to brief the House on its efforts to deal with the issue of “Kayayei” (head potters).
“Kayayei” is a phenomenon of women and girls mostly uneducated, migrating mainly from the countryside but especially the Northern Regions of Ghana to Accra, Kumasi and other metropolis to engage in menial jobs such as carrying goods as means of getting income.
The speaker’s directive follows a statement made on the floor of the House on Wednesday by the Member of Parliament for Oforikrom, Hon. Elizabeth Agyeman on the plight of this unfortunate group of persons and the dangers they are exposed to while they ply their trade.
He said the House after it has been briefed by the Minister will take a decision on how to deal with the issue of “Kayayei” which is becoming a menace.
In her statement Hon. Elizabeth Agyeman noted that many of these young women and girls migrate out of choice in search of better opportunities of livelihood, while others undertake this adventure due to several reasons such as poverty, forced marriage, peer pressure and family breakdown among others.
She said in the Oforikrom constituency alone, there are about 9,600 of these young girls whose interest she has at heart.
Hon. Agyeman stated that about 3 months ago, she visited Dagomba Line, a suburb of her constituency where most of the girls reside and was stunned to the point of tears when she saw the poor conditions under which they live.
The Legislator said she immediately organized team of medical doctors, pharmacists, nurses and other support staff selected from 3 health facilities in Kumasi to offer freee medical screening for the girls.
They head potters were screened of various health conditions after which those found with critical health conditions were referred to the Kumasi South, Manhyia, Tafo and Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospitals.
Hon, Elizabeth Agyeman disclosed that the exercise which lasted 3-days and screened over 6,000 head potters, was funded by philanthropists with support from the Common Fund Administrator, the Ghana Health Service, the Chief Executive of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, Dr Ben Kunbour, Hon. Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, Hon. Mahama Ayariga, Hon. Mubarak Muntaka Hon. Isaac Ose, Hon. Emmanuel Kyeremanteng Agyarko and a number of Pharmaceutical companies in Accra and Kumasi.
She called for the efforts of the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority which is aimed at developing the Northern sector of the country to be encouraged to stem the tide on the migration of these young girls to the southern sector.
Hon. Agyeman proposed the setting up of an emergency committee made up of the Ministries of Education, Works and Housing, Gender and Social Protection and Local Government and Rural Development respectively to look into the fundamental causes of the migration and put in urgent measures to arrest the situation.
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