By Valentia Tetteh
The Minister-Designate for the Northern Region, Ali Adolf John has vowed to tackle the persistent Kayayei phenomenon, which sees many young women from Northern Ghana migrating to urban centers in search of menial work as head porters.
During his vetting on Thursday, January 23, Mr. Adolf assured the Appointments Committee and the public that addressing this issue would be a top priority if given the nod. He acknowledged that the Kayayei problem is long-standing and stressed that creating a more attractive home environment in the North would be key to curbing the migration trend.
“The Kayayei menace is a problem that didn’t start today, and the best I can do is to make the home a beautiful place so that people don’t have to migrate from the north,” Mr. Adolf said.
To address the root causes of the issue, Mr. Adolf outlined a comprehensive strategy involving collaboration with Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) throughout the Northern Region. He emphasized the need to create a sustainable and thriving environment to discourage young women from relocating to cities like Accra and Kumasi in search of work.
Central to his plan is a focus on skill development and employment opportunities. Mr. Adolf proposed the introduction of apprenticeship and vocational training programs aimed at equipping youth, particularly young women, with skills that can help them secure stable livelihoods within their communities.
“We will initiate apprenticeship programs to ensure they stay viable and are discouraged from migrating,” he said. “Every District Chief Executive will play a role in halting this migration, and we will ensure that materials are distributed annually to support training.”
The proposed programs will cover a range of skills, including tailoring, hairdressing, farming, and other income-generating ventures tailored to the local economy. Mr. Adolf says his aim is to reduce the number of Kayayei migrating to urban areas and provide lasting solutions.
