The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP) has held a Kayayei Empowerment Workshop to enhance the wellbeing, economic resilience, and personal safety of female head porters.
The engagement provided participants with knowledge on reproductive health and wellness, financial inclusion and investment opportunities for young women in the informal sector, as well as sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and available reporting mechanisms, aimed at equipping them to make informed decisions and better protect themselves.
Speaking at the programme, the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, explained that the engagement formed part of the Ministry’s deliberate efforts to include vulnerable populations in its end-of-year outreach activities.
She noted that female head porters are an integral part of the Ministry’s work and must be empowered with knowledge about their rights, welfare, and future opportunities.
According to Dr. Lartey, educating Kayayei on available reporting channels and support systems not only enables them to protect themselves but also positions them to assist others within their communities.
She stressed that empowering beneficiaries with information creates a multiplier effect, extending the Ministry’s impact beyond direct engagements.
As part of the intervention, participants received packed meals and essential food items, including rice and cooking oil, to support them and their families during the Christmas festivities.
Touching on the Ministry’s achievements for the year, the Minister highlighted the passage of the Social Protection Act as a major milestone, noting that the law strengthens the coordination and implementation of social interventions across the country.
She further indicated that several key policies, including the National Gender Policy, Domestic Violence Policy, Disability Policy, and the Early Childhood Care and Development Policy, have received approval and will soon be rolled out to ensure the public understands and benefits from them.
Participants were encouraged to report all forms of abuse and rights violations through the Ministry’s toll-free helplines 0800-111-222, 0800-800-800, and 0800-900-900, particularly during the festive season when head porters are among the most vulnerable groups exposed to exploitation and violence.
