The National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP) has initiated training for Kayayeis through the Kayayei Empowerment Programme under the Office of the Vice President in Madina and Ashaiman.
The training, which commenced on Tuesday, May 28, aims to benefit 5,000 individuals, with 600 participants in each monthly cohort, continuing until December 2024.
Modules covered in the training include beadwork and jewelry making, soap and detergent production, makeup artistry, baking, decoration, pedicure and manicure, among others.
This effort follows the recent establishment of the Kayayei Empowerment Training Centre by Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia on Tuesday, May 21, in Madina, Accra.
The Centre boasts two training rooms, three pantries, a kitchen, a clinic, 15 washrooms, five dormitories, fire extinguishers, CCTV surveillance, round-the-clock security, and a food shed.
Additionally, training and housing facilities under the Kayayei Empowerment Project are scattered across various locations in Accra and Kumasi.
The primary objective of the Kayayei Empowerment Programme is to equip head porters with Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), offering practical skills and knowledge to prepare them for specific trades and occupations.
Addressing concerns and criticisms surrounding the initiative, Dr. Bawumia expressed confidence in its success and the positive impact it will bring to the lives of Kayayeis.
“When I made this promise on behalf of the government, there were many who thought it was not a realistic promise. They thought it was not possible. They said it was a 419 scheme, but I knew that ‘Insha Allah’ it was possible for us to do it.”
“We had COVID in 2020, and we had to recover from it and so what we are doing for Kayayei’s today is part of a whole programme of activity of our government to help the poor and the vulnerable,” he said.
