Adiza Zongo Pioneer leading the kayayei during the march past
HEAD PORTERS, popularly known as kayayei in the local parlance, were the toast of the huge crowd that witnessed Ghana’s 60th independence anniversary parade at the Jubilee Park in Kumasi, the Ashanti Regional capital, yesterday.
Carrying head pans of various sizes, the kayayei, who were led by their National President, Adiza Zongo Pioneer, majestically marched at the parade ground to the admiration of all the dignitaries, traditional rulers and other people present. Some of them were seen nodding their heads in admiration as the head porters marched past.
It was the first time that head porters – mainly made up of young people that have migrated from the northern parts of the country – were taking part in the 6th March independence parade in Kumasi. It happened a few days after the market toll they had been paying over the years had been abolished by Nana Akufo-Addo’s New Patriotic Party (NPP) government.
Later in an interview with DAILY GUIDE, Adiza Zongo Pioneer stated that they decided to take part in the parade to show their appreciation to President Akufo-Addo for scrapping the levy.
According to her, the levy, over the years, had had an adverse effect on the coffers of the poor head porters and so they were grateful to the NPP administration for removing it.
Adiza Zongo Pioneer stated that President Akufo-Addo’s government has demonstrated that he has the concerns and the wellbeing of the head porters at heart “and we shall also support the government to succeed.”
In his succinct remarks, the Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah, charged people in the region to be time conscious and work hard to help accelerate the developmental agenda of the region.
According to him, the NPP government has the development of the country at heart and urged the people to unite to move the country forward within a short time.
The minister also reiterated his vision of making the region clean to help prevent the outbreak of diseases.
FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi