We'll jail 'Kayayei' traffickers – Gov’t

Government is set to track down traffickers who lure female porters, popularly known as 'kayayei', to the Arabian Gulf, for prostitution.

According to Gender, Children and Social Protection Minister Nana Oye Lithur, the young ladies are promised better lives and decent jobs but end up as prostitutes in countries such as Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

Speaking at a forum organised to register porters onto the National Health Insurance Scheme, the Gender Minister said her Ministry will go after the traffickers.

She said she will meet with the president of the porters to devise means to halt the illegal act.

"For those recruiting kakayei for trafficking and prostitution, we are warning you, we will catch you, prosecute, and convict you.

"You will go to jail. So, all those who are trafficking kayayei, please be on the alert and stop that practice," she warned.