Members of the Ga Traditional Council say they have noted with displeasure the unauthorised construction of a hostel for head porters (Kayayei) in Accra and want same to be stopped.

According to the Ga Traditional Council, the construction of the hostel at Agbogbloshie in Accra Central by ‘unidentified people’ should not proceed under no circumstances.

The Council said in a statement signed by King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, Ga Mantse and President of the Ga Traditional Council, that any person or group that wish to proceed with the hostel project for “Kayayei”, should seek a new site outside the city.

“The Ga Traditional Council under the leadership of its President, Ga Mantse and the people of The Ga State, remain vehemently opposed to this Project,” the statement said.

Below is the full statement

The government has started the construction of what it says would be seven 4-storey hostel facilities to be situated one each in seven municipalities in the Greater Accra Region to accommodate the kayayei, to give them decent accommodation after close of work. This was a major campaign promise by the ruling government.

Officials of the Ga West Municipal Assembly (GWMA) recently cut sod to begin the construction of one of the seven hostels, and is expected to be completed in 18 months.

The beneficiary assemblies are the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (3), and one each at Korle Klottey, Ashaiman, La Nkwantanang and Ayawaso Central.

The GaDangbe Council similarly expressed disapproval of the construction of a hostel in the centre of Accra for kayayei, and said the funds to go into the project would be better channelled into the construction of vocational and technical training institutions to give the kayayei employable skills.