Policy To address Kayayei Menace Underway

The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection Otiko Afisa Djaba has disclosed that a policy document to address the kayayei menace is in the offing.

The kayayei policy she said will add up to several of such initiatives the Ministry is poised to develop to address the myriad of challenges confronting vulnerable members of society.

Some of the vulnerable groups to also benefit from the policy include the aged, alleged witches and witchcrafts, children, reformed prostitutes among others.

As an interim measure to curb the housing needs, Ms. Djaba said the Ministry is committed to providing shelter at all regions to provide roof for all kayayei’s across the country in fulfillment of the New Patriotic Party manifesto’s promise to provide accommodation for the kayayei.

“In as much as we are providing shelters for kayayei does not mean we want to encourage them to stay in Accra. In the interim, a few government shelters have been identified for refurbishment and offers received from the private sector with proposals for joint management arrangements for private shelters,” the Minister stated.

 

Ms Djaba said these when she appeared before Parliament to answer questions posed by Member of Parliament for Pusiga, Ms Laadi Ayii Ayamba on what measures the Ministry has put in place to ensure that women and girls already living on the streets of urban areas get accommodation and social amenities.

 

Training for Kayayei

 

Ms Djaba said measures are in place to train and employ 2000 head porters in garments manufacturing and hairdressing this year.

 

The Ministry she said is also involved in promoting the productive inclusion of the ‘kayayei’ into the Ghanaian society to help take them out of poverty levels.

 

To address the challenge of streetism, the minister said the Ministry has launched a campaign dubbed “Operation Get Off the Streets Now for a Better Life”.

 

The campaign she said is aimed at mapping and creating a database of groups to ascertain their numbers and characteristics to design tailor-made programmes to address their difficulties.

By: Christian Kpesese/ thePublisher