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The Ashanti Regional Kayayei Association, a group committed to the cause of head porters (Kayayei), has appealed to corporate institutions to come to their aid to help resettle their affected members.

The porters were displaced in the recent fire outbreak at the Afful-Nkwanta Dagomba -Line, Kumasi.
More than 150 porters were displaced as their structures and other personal belongings got burnt in the fire outbreak at the Dagomba-Line, home to the majority of the Kayayei.

It took firefighters more than six hours to bring the raging fire under control. There was no casualty, but the development had caused a big blow to the porters, most of them losing their property in the process.

A statement signed by Mr Osman Ziblim, Regional Chairman of the Association in Kumasi, described the situation of the affected members as pathetic.

“Our mothers, brothers and sisters have nowhere to sleep now. We are counting on the public to come to our aid to improve the situation of these unfortunate ones,” the statement said.

It lauded the National Disaster Management Organisation for donating some relief items to the affected members, saying much as this gesture had alleviated some of their plight, a lot more is needed to improve their general wellbeing.
The statement reminded the government of the need to work harder to improve the living conditions of the members in the areas of education, health, accommodation and their general wellbeing.

It cautioned politicians not to use issues concerning the Kayayei for their own selfish gains.

“The Kayayei Association has no political affiliation. We do not want any party to use us as a propaganda machinery to advance its own cause.”

The statement denied reports that the Association contributed GH₡ 5,000 to the recent fund-raising by the New Political Party in Kumasi, noting that it had also not made such contribution to any political party in the past to advance their cause.

“Most Kayayei have been amongst the poorest of the poor in the country since time immemorial, but all that we hear from government to government are empty promises,” the statement noted.

It reminded political parties not to take advantage of their vulnerability to use them for political gains.

The statement urged members of the Association to focus on their mission statement.