KAYAYEI, THE SLAVERY OF OUR TIME.
For no fault of theirs, the kayayei or disadvantaged girls are found on our streets. It is indeed about time our conscience pricked us as we watch unconcerned whiles girls between the ages of 10 to 15 leave their homes several miles up north and migrate down south in search of menial jobs just to survive and remit some monies home for the upkeep of their families.
These girls who are from poorer homes are left with no choice as they lack formal education and any form of skill training, but to seek greener pastures in the southern sector by working as house helps in rich homes, head porters or attendants in not too fancy chop bars.
Their favorite destinations are usually Accra, Kumasi, Tema and Takoradi where economic activities are quiet buoyant and one is tempted to think that working in these areas would automatically ensure prosperity and a brighter future. Sooner than later this only turns up to be a mirage.
Without any voice and lacking the power to stand up for their rights, the unfortunate girls are exploited and abused by their employers either by subjecting them to beatings and or giving them less than what they deserve as their take home pay.
They also come face to face with the grim reality of life outside their original communities as they lack accommodation and have to pass the dark and cold nights with their babies in dilapidated kiosks or on bare floors in front of shops and stores.
In Accra their favorite spots are the Malata, Makola and Kaneshie markets were they are jammed up in small cubicles reminiscent of how our brothers and sisters in the Diaspora were charted away in slave ships.
Apart from homelessness the unfortunate but industrious girls fall prey to social vices such as teenage pregnancy which perpetuates the cycle of poverty.
Some unscrupulous persons without any shame what so ever violently rape these girls whiles they pass the nights under the protection of the skies and this criminal act which goes unpunished usually, has the tendency to cause them to be infected with some sexually transmitted diseases.
Efforts to protect the hardworking girls by the humanity magazine, and Kunata Voluntary Organisation has been impactful, which includes the transformation of the public address system of the Kejetia-Kayayei center to Radio Kejetia for purposive vocal defense for the vulnerable.
