Twenty-five former head porters, popularly known as kayayei, have graduated in Accra after completing a year-long apprenticeship in painting and tiling.
The initiative, spearheaded by UNFPA Ghana in partnership with Prudential Life Insurance Ghana, is part of the Kayayei Assistance Project (KASPRO), launched in 2020 to empower vulnerable young women with employable skills and sustainable livelihoods.
The beneficiaries, drawn largely from northern Ghana, include single mothers, survivors of child marriages, and school dropouts. Many had migrated to Accra in search of opportunities but ended up working as kayayei in markets, carrying heavy loads under harsh conditions. The programme offered them a pathway out of poverty through structured training, mentorship, and apprenticeships with master craftsmen.
UNFPA Ghana Country Representative Dr. David Wilfred Ochan described the initiative as “timely and transformative,” stressing its role in equipping women with practical skills for financial independence and national development.
He noted that the project aligns with UNFPA’s broader mission of empowering women and girls to break cycles of vulnerability.
UNFPA Ghana Gender Team lead, Dr. Doris Mawuse Aglobitse explained that while some participants dropped out due to family pressure, financial constraints, and lack of commitment, those who persevered demonstrated remarkable resilience.
She commended Prudential Life Insurance Ghana and the Purim African Youth Development Platform (PAYDP) for its continued support, and appealed for more partnerships to expand the programme.
“We need individuals, corporate institutions, and development partners to collaborate with us so that more young women can benefit from this life-changing initiative,” she said.
Prudential Life Insurance Ghana’s Kokui Bulley also praised the graduates for breaking gender barriers.
“It is a celebration of courage, resilience, determination and opportunity. It is a testament to what becomes possible when organisations come together with a shared commitment to transforming lives and creating pathways to a brighter future,” she said.
She added: “What makes today’s graduation particularly inspiring is that these young women chose to pursue careers in painting and tiling – professions traditionally perceived as male-dominated trades. In doing so, they have challenged stereotypes, broken barriers, and demonstrated that talent, ambition and excellence have no gender.”
The Kayayei Assistance Project began during the COVID-19 pandemic with 50 women enrolled. In 2024, a mentorship phase was introduced to prepare participants mentally and assess their readiness for vocational training. The number was later reduced to 30, with 25 completing the one-year apprenticeship. Beyond painting and tiling, earlier cohorts have ventured into small businesses producing detergents, body lotion, jewellery, and leather footwear, showing the programme’s potential to diversify livelihoods.
UNFPA Ghana attested that the success of the latest cohort underscores the need for expanded training in other trades and stronger partnerships to sustain the programme.
For many of the graduates, the ceremony was more than a certificate presentation, it was a symbol of hope, resilience, and a new beginning. With skills in hand and barriers broken, they said they were poised to enter the workforce, challenge stereotypes, and inspire others to pursue opportunities beyond traditional roles.
