Vice President Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang on Monday, August 10, 2026, received a delegation from the Kayayei Association, led by the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Hon. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, at the Jubilee House to discuss the challenges facing head porters and measures to improve their livelihoods.
The meeting provided an opportunity to deepen discussions on the experiences of Kayayei, including concerns about exploitation, access to skills training, sustainable business opportunities and the welfare of women and children.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang stressed that the Kayayei phenomenon must be viewed within the broader context of migration, inequality and development, noting that several factors drive people from their communities to seek opportunities in cities.
She said skills training remained important, but interventions must be guided by the aspirations of the women themselves and linked to the tools, capital and opportunities needed to turn their skills into sustainable livelihoods.
The Vice President also expressed concern about the circumstances of children living within Kayayei communities, emphasising that their welfare must remain central to long-term interventions, alongside measures to protect women from exploitation.
She commended the Ministry and the Kayayei Association for their continued engagement and said government would continue working with relevant institutions to develop a more comprehensive response to the challenges facing head porters.
