Dynamic Vessels International : The Kayayei of Southern Ghana

The Kayayei of Southern Ghana

The word Kaya is a Hausa word which means load while yoo is the Ga word for woman and the plural being yei, women. The term kayayoo or kayayei is used to refer to women and girls who carry loads on their heads for a fee in the central market centres of Accra, Kumasi and Takoradi.
These women and young girls are usually migrants from the three northern regions of Ghana comprising of Upper East, Upper West and Northern Region. Some are also immigrants from neighbouring countries like Burkina Faso and Togo.

Ghanaians from the northern sector and those from the neighbouring countries troop to the central market centres in the capital Accra, Kumasi and Takoradi in search of jobs. The young girls and women among these immigrants engage in the trade of carrying loads on their heads for a fee. They usually comprise of women and girls with little or no education. Those with some education have at most junior high school education although in some cases very few might have a secondary education. Most of these girls are school dropouts from primary schools. There are varying reasons for their decision to migrate to southern Ghana to serve as head porters or Kayayei in deplorable working conditions. Researchers agree that the disparity between the sharing of the nation cake between the north and the south is a major contributing factor to the phenomenon of Kayayei. Due to lack of development, poverty and lack of opportunities to improve on their economic situation coupled with the decreasing rainfall patterns experienced in the north.

Consequently these women and girls immigrate to the southern sector to avoid the risk of wallowing in abject poverty. They migrate down south usually temporarily and engage in the Kayayei trade to save money either for marriage or to learn a trade. Traditionally it is required for a young bride to possess some items before getting married hence some girls save up as Kayayei to acquire these items and then return home to get married. Others save up money to buy tools and in order to pay for their apprenticeship in trades such as hairdressing and tailoring.

Though their reasons for being Kayayei might be laudable, the risks involved are usually higher than the rewards. They lack proper accommodation and usually sleep in sheds in the market or kiosks rented out to them by shop owners. The number of people who sleep in these kiosks and sometimes small rooms are on average ten people. They do not have access to toilets and bath and normally have to bathe in public bathrooms at a cost. They are forced to live in filth and are thus prone to diseases which when contagious spread easily and fast. Both women and girls are prone to rape and defilement due to the deplorable conditions they live in. Some of them get pregnant after being raped and are thrust into unplanned motherhood while some contract STDs.

We at Dynamic Vessels International decided to contribute our quota to solve this phenomenon. In this regard, we organised a free medical outreach for them, truck pushers and hawkers. We also educated them on health issue, fed them, gave them clothing and gave them the opportunity of learning any trade of their choice.

Dynamic Vessels International’s Medical Outreach and Soup Kitchen for the Kayayei, Truck Pushers, Hawkers and Street Children 2012

Dynamic Vessels International is a non-governmental organization that seeks to help nations improve on HealthCare, Education, living Standards and attain a viable economic status. We are committed to providing humanitarian services in the above mentioned areas. This we believe will help solve the problems of poverty, health and underutilization of human resources.

In the light of this mission, we host medical outreaches and Soup Kitchens annually for the poor and destitute across the globe. On 25^th December, 2012, this programme was held at Kejetia, Kumasi - Ghana for head porters popularly known as Kayayei and their children, truck pushers, hawkers and street children. The organisation recognises the need to show love, and help elevate the problems of disease, malnutrition and general lack of Kayayei, organised a free medical outreach for them. They were attended to by doctors and given medication. Our medical team was made up of practising doctors, final year medical students from Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and professional nurses from over the country. These volunteered to give medical aid.