Interior Ministry to provide shelter for Kayayee

Accra, June 3, GNA - The Ministry of the Interior is to provide temporary shelters in the form of

dormitories for street porters (Kayayee) to ensure their security, Mr Martin Amidu, the sector Minister

announced this in Accra on Wednesday. Mr Amidu who was answering questions in Parliament said it would be done in consultation with the

Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs as a long term plan. He said the police was providing security for the Kayayee on the streets of Accra, Kumasi and Takoradi

through day and night patrols. The Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service, Social Welfare

Department and some non-governmental organisations, he noted were providing social welfare and security

services to the Kayayee. He reiterated that the Community Police Unit of the Ghana Police Service had intensified its educational

campaigns educating the Kayayee on the dangers associated with their work. Answering a question on when a police station would be built in Binduri, Mr Amidu said government had

provided funds for the completion of 38 on- going office and residential accommodation project for the

Police Service in the 2010 budget. However, he said it would be contingent for government to budget for the Binduri project in 2011 budget. Commenting on the wearing of crash helmets by motor bicycle and pillion riders, the Minister said there

were loopholes in the laws that enjoined people to wear the protective head dress. Mr Amidu said the law must be reversed to compel the compulsory carriage of a spare helmet on all

motorbikes for use by pillion riders. Motorbike dealers he noted could be compelled to include the cost of two protective helmets of the

prescribed shape, design and quality in pricing the bikes. He said the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit of the Police, the National Road Safety Commission and

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority would embark on an educational campaign which would include

sensitisation of the public on the law on motorbike.