We are not giving Kayayei monies but food – Gender Minister

Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection Cynthia Mamle Morrison has refuted claims that head porters popularly known as Kayayei will be enjoying some monetary benefits from the government.

Her comment comes on the back of various news portals reporting that government had instructed the Local Government Ministry to provide GH¢10 daily to every head porter (Kayayei) in the lockdown catchment zones

Speaking at a press conference in Accra on Tuesday, 7 April 2020, Cynthia Morisson said, “We have the vulnerable at heart. Yesterday, I had a call that said the Kayayei wanted to be on the street because they wanted to feel free. They were actually expecting monies to be given to them. We are not giving anybody money. We are not sharing money but food.”

She also noted that her outfit has secured an accommodation facility at Madina in the Greater Accra Region for Kayayei in the capital.

“5 buses conveyed 381 Kayayei to a shelter provided for them. This is because we do not want them to be on the street, we got a place for them in Madina”.

Kayayei flee home

Following the announcement of Ghana locking down some city centers due to the Coronavirus outbreak, some head porters, numbering about 76, attempted to flee from Accra back to their hometowns, but their journey back home was unsuccessful as it fell within the lockdown time on Monday, March 30, 2020.

Their attempted crossover to the North was seen as a threat to stop the spread of the virus in the country, and they were stopped by security officials.

The attempted flee, hence, triggered the government to implement the initiative.

Meanwhile, Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has donated GH¢500 to each of the stranded Kayayei (head porters) who were stopped while on their way to the Northern Region.

The move is to ameliorate their plight during the period of the partial lockdown.

The donation was made on behalf of the Vice President by the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Hajia Alima Mahama.