Head Porters popularly known as �Kayayei�, operating within the capital of Accra are, as a matter of urgency, calling on government to create more employment opportunities to enable them better their lives.
These head porters, most of who are teenagers between the ages of 16 and 25, said because of lack of jobs their parents were unable to cater for their needs, hence, the reason for them trekking to the south, Accra for greener pastures.
Majority of these young girls who hail from the Northern region in search of white colour jobs explained that they were lured by the sweet tales of Accra, but little did they know that the stories are just fiction.
The DAILY HERITAGE after a visit to some parts of Accra precisely UTC and Okaishie can confirm that these girls live in appalling conditions to the extent of adopting places such as the markets, shops and behind stationed vehicles to lay down their heads during the night.
A 17-year-old Gifty Nyaaba narrated her ordeal to the paper during the visit saying, �I came from Yorogo in the Upper East region to Accra with my sister who was already in the Kayoyoo business. Unfortunately, my sister died as a result of cancer, life afterwards hasn't been easy for me.�
According to Gifty, after her sister died there was nothing she could do, but had to adopt sleeping in front of a cosmetics shop at Tema Station with her few belongings.
Gifty said, she wakes up as early as 4:30am and finds her way out to the Makola Market to catch the early customers and she charges between GH�1.00 and GH�5.00 depending on the weight of the load. At the end of the day, she can make up to GH�12.00, sometimes more.
She lamented that sleeping in front of a cosmetic shop every evening is very devastating and there is risk to her life despite the dangers at night where armed robbers come to rob her of her savings. �I have hope of going to school and my dream is to become a nurse.��
Another who gave her name only as Taado said she has no hope for the future; her dream is to enroll in a hairdressing business, but has no financial support.
�I can close my eyes and braid hair within 30-minutes. She concurred with her friend Gifty of the dangers they have been facing and are appealing to the government for support.�
The poor lady told the paper that she has become a victim of rape and as result got pregnant and now has a two-year-old son.
Fending for herself and her child she said is not easy for her, saying, �to cater for two square meals a day is a problem. I don�t make much, a day sometimes GH�8.00.00 and I need to feed myself and my son, and attend to other things.�
According to her, taking regular bathing is a great difficulty for her since she is unable to afford the 50Gp a day and has to adopt taking her bath every other day.
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