Henry Akwaboah
The Managing Director of Engen Ghana Mr Henry Akwaboah has pointed that society cannot avoid the imperative gesture of supporting the deprived segment of the populace, particularly head porters (Kayayei) .
He was a speaking at a special function to create the awareness and support for head porters popularly known as Kayayei at Engen Ghana office at No.16 Christian Centre, Ambassadorial Enclave at East Legon, a suburb in Accra Akwaboah called on the public to show compassion to the girls.
He also urged society to support women at both Kejetia and Makola to extend what he called voluntary motherly services in counseling and educating the Kayayei on teenage pregnancy prevention which has been a challenge among Kayayei.
Engen Ghana’s support is towards the procurement of a public address system for the completed Kejetia Kayayei Resettlement Center and clinic in Kumasi
A public address system has become necessary due to plans by operators of the resettlement center to reach out to head-porters and market women to share beneficial informations and educate these groups on important social topics such as health and education for their children.
He suggested for concerted efforts between government and civil society groups to find lasting solutions to the canker of head-portering.
The Project Director for the Ambassador Pamela Bridgewater Project, Yahaya Alhassan, thanked the company for the gesture and concern for the well-being and progress of women.
Alhassan revealed that the public address system would be used to share useful information to the head-porters.
He added the instruments would also be used for advocacy against the trafficking of girls and young women from the northern parts of the country to the southern sector to engage in menial jobs.
“The choice of Kejetia to lunch the campaign against trafficking of girls is due to the fact that Kumasi has become an important transit point for the traffickers, who transport the vulnerable girls to places such as Tema and Accra,” he stated.
The Kejetia Kayayei Resettlement Center would also welcome local and foreign volunteers, who will be tasked to monitor and collect demographic data of disadvantaged girls and assess the training needs of the head-porters and recommend appropriate training programs.
The Outreach Unit of the Center is tasked with educating the disadvantaged girls and women on the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/AIDS, pre-marital sex, and teenage pregnancies which are major challenges for the girls.
Engen is an oil company focusing on the downstream refined petroleum products market and related businesses with an environmental friendly drive for a sustainable community.