To alleviate the challenges faced by young girls in the Kayayei phenomenon, the Government of Ghana has launched a proactive strategy focusing on the provision of residential vocational and skills training facilities. These facilities are set to play a pivotal role in reshaping the prospects of Kayayei, offering a pathway towards sustainable livelihoods outside their current laborious profession.
The vocational skills training program is a collaborative effort involving Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), and the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA). These organizations will collectively orchestrate training sessions encompassing various disciplines, including electricals, tailoring, soap making, ICT, and more.
The training curriculum is structured to span 6 months for each group, meticulously designed to impart comprehensive skills to the trainees. The completed residential facilities, currently operational in Accra’s Madina and Ashaiman areas, can accommodate and train 300 Kayayei within 6 months, totaling 1200 participants annually in the Accra region alone.
Efforts are also underway to advance similar residential training facilities in Kumasi, with projects underway in Suame and Asokore Mampong. These upcoming facilities aim to replicate the success of the Accra sites, fostering vocational skill development among Kayayei in the Ashanti Region.
The government’s foresight extends further to Tamale, where plans are in motion to construct four additional facilities. This strategic expansion will widen the reach of the vocational training initiative, accommodating and empowering more Kayayei from the Northern Region.
Throughout the training program, the participants will receive stipends, ensuring their basic needs are met during the learning process. Upon completion of the training, these young women will receive startup toolkits, facilitating the launch of their independent businesses in their respective trained disciplines.
By providing tangible skills and enabling a transition away from the Kayayei profession, the government’s initiative aims to empower these young women, offering them dignified and sustainable livelihoods beyond their current challenges.
