Coronavirus: AMA provides temporary shelter, food for stranded kayayei

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has provided temporary shelter for some 76 head potters (kayayei) who were impounded at Ejisu by the Ashanti Regional Police whilst smuggling their way to the Northern Region in a cargo truck vehicle due to the partial lockdown being enforced in Accra.

The Kayayei who were directed to return to Accra by the Ashanti Regional Police were discovered by the Metro Security Task Force during their early morning patrol of the metropolis were screened in accordance with the COVID-19 medical protocols, refreshed with food, water and soft drinks by the AMA and the BN Michael Ministries.

Addressing the head porters, Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Cynthia Mamle Morrison, who was part of a high-powered delegation from the National COVID-19 Safety Taskforce assured them of government’s support during the lockdown and appealed to them to remain calm.

"Do not cry, nobody will arrest you. We will provide you food, water to bathe and a place to sleep and teach all of you how to properly wash your hands and give you sanitizers. Nobody should run away because if you do you will be arrested. The President had directed that no one should move out but stay home so we will transport all of you back home after two weeks,” she said.

Deputy National Security Minister, Henry Quartey informed them that President Akufo Addo had directed them to assist them with food, security among others and ensure that they are safe, especially during the lockdown.

He appealed to them to observe the directives on social distancing, and stay in the shelter to be provided them.

The head porters include 20 girls between the ages of 6 to 15 years, 21 babies and 35 women between the ages of 18 to 45 years.