Accra, April 1, GNA – Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has donated 500 Ghana cedis to each of the stranded Kayayie, head porters, who were escaping the partial lockdown to Northern Region but were stopped at Ejisu in the Ashanti Region.
The head porters, numbering about 76, had attempted to flee from Accra back to their hometowns in the wake of the President’s order for a partial lockdown of COVID-19 hotspots, areas covering Accra, Tema, Kasoa and Greater Kumasi.
However, their journey back home was unsuccessful as it fell within the lockdown time on Monday, March 30.
Their attempted mass crossover to the north was seen as a danger that could spread the virus to other parts of the country and they were stopped by security officials and returned to Accra.
Despite the temporary provision of shelter for them by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, many have raised concerns over the plight of the Kayayies under the current circumstance, as business activities in the heart of Accra have come to a halt.
It was in response of their plight that the Vice President donated 500 Ghana cedis to each of them to ameliorate their predicament during the period of the lockdown.
The donation was made on behalf of the Vice President by the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Hajia Alima Mahama.
The Minister was accompanied by Dr Sagare Bambangi, the Member of Parliament for Walewale and Mustafa Ussif, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Service Secretariat.
Hajia Alima Mahama announced that President Akufo-Addo has directed that all Kayayies be given GH¢ 10 per day throughout the lockdown period to buy food.
Meanwhile, Vice President Bawumia urged all Ghanaians to continue observing the preventive measures of regularly washing hands with soap under running water, covering one’s mouth when coughing and sneezing and usage of alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
“While we stay at home to prevent the spread, let us continue to adhere strictly to all the preventive measures to avoid the spread of the virus,” he said.
GNA