I will cater for 'witches' and 'kayeyei' - Oye Lithur

In order to curb the canker of head porters popularly known as ‘kayayei’ in the capital, Accra, Minister-designate for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Nana Oye Lithur, says education and sensitization will be key.

She has emphasized the need for especially those from the North to be educated and come to the realization that they can be prosperous in the North and not only in Accra.

As a result, she endorsed the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) initiative under the NDC ‘Better Ghana Agenda’ which to her will help the youth in the North, give them resources as well as opportunities to work; forgetting about migrating to the capital.

She however admitted to how difficult the process will be but was quick to add that her ministry is up to task and will use its humanitarian aid to assist them.

She told the Appointments Committee of Parliament during her vetting on Wednesday that: “It’s a development issue and it’s all about poverty, unemployment and rural urban migration. In a short term, the humanitarian aid that the ministry gives to Kayayei will continue. As a Long term measure, we just need to ensure that resources are divided and goes across and that is why I am happy that in the Better Ghana Agenda, we have SADA - if we are able to put this in place, provide resources, skills will be developed for young persons who come from the North to work and they will stay there”

The Minister-designate also touched on women at the ‘witches’ camp in the North and how to tackle the stigma and isolation associated with them.

She alluded to the fact that it is a cultural problem and hence the need to adopt a community approach.

“We need to adopt a community approach; this is cultural and this is a belief that people hold and the way forward would be to engage with the community leaders and members of the community to reintegrate the women and children in the camps.

“Another option would be to make the camp a community where others will also come and stay but the key thing is to engage with community, engage, sensitization and help them change their belief…” she asserted.