Urban migration.

1. EMPOWERING WOMEN TO CUT
DOWN ON URBAN MIGRATION.

2. • Urban migration is the movement of people from
the rural areas due to a number of reasons into
cities in search of better conditions.
• In Ghana, majority of the northerner’s migrate to
the south in search for good jobs and better
salaries.
• A huge number of the women who migrate end
up in menial jobs like “Kayayoo”, water seller and
cleaner in local food joints.

3. • Kayayoo or Kayayei(Plural) are head
porters who usually migrate from
northern to southern Ghana.
• Kaya” means load in Hausa and “yoo”
and “yei” plural is girl in Ga language.
• Majority of the girls who migrate are of
school going age or even younger. Most
of them end up doing the Kaya jobs.
• They are homeless and are based in the
various markets and slums of Accra.
• They are left to the dangerous streets
of Accra and many end up with
unwanted pregnancies from rape and
others as payment for protection on the
streets.

4. CAUSES OF MIGRATION.
• Poverty(poor living
conditions)
• Lack of good jobs
• Low wages
• Education
• Arranged marriages
• Conflict

5. How to tackle migration(“Kayayei”)
issue.
• A test run would be done at
one of the schools first.
• Local newspapers, schools,
radio and posters would be
used to make citizens aware
of this.
• Girls of school going age and
women in the community
would be randomly selected
to take part in this project.
• The project is a long term one
which would run for a
minimum one year

6. How to tackle migration(“Kayayei”)
issue.
1. Workshops would be carried out in the
north to make them aware of issues
women face when they migrate
,discuss the problems leading to
migration with the citizens and work
with them on possible solutions.
2. Empowering women through skill
training with the help of the government
and local centres. Skills training on jobs
such as basket weaving, hairdressing,
farming, sewing and bead making.
3. Information centres would be made
available to give advice on other Ngo’s
that may support local businesses, on
vocational training centres around,
business opportunities and resources
available etc.

7. What would make this process
effective?
• Excellent participation from Citizens and
regular feedback would help deliver a better
service.
• In addition, addressing cultural challenges
such as child marriages that make girls run
away would also help.
• Lastly, making sure there is no break in the
feedback loop would help with the smooth
running of the project.

8. REFERENCES
• http://www.myjoyonline.com/opinion/2014/march-11th/celebrating-international-
womens-day-a-look-at-the-plights-of-ghanaian-female-porters-kayayei.php.
Accessed on 02/03/2016
• https://archive.lib.msu.edu/DMC/African%20Journals/pdfs/social%20development/vol
18no2/jsda018002003.pdf. Accessed on 29/02/2016
• http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Shea-nut-and-poverty-
alleviation-in-Northern-Ghana-195236. Accessed on 29/03/2016.
• http://www.udsspace.uds.edu.gh/bitstream/123456789/188/1/Tackling%20Rural-
Urban%20Migration.pdf. Accessed on 29/03/2016.
• https://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Ghana/Northern/Tamale/blog-220717.html.
Accessed on 29/03/2016.
• http://www.ghananewsagency.org/features/an-encounter-with-a-kaya-yoo-a-peep-at-
northern-ghana-s-dilemma--14742. Accessed on 29/03/2016.