With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, livelihoods were threatened, cases of gender-based violence spiked and gains made in the quest to reduce unintended pregnancies were adversely affected. A key population in Ghana that was at the mercy of the global pandemic were kayayei--females who earned a living by carrying heavy loads on their heads in the busy markets of the country, including in areas like Kejetia, Kaneshie, Mallam Atta, Makola, Tudu, amongst others.

To stem the tide of the socio-economic and health crisis that came with the pandemic, UNFPA Ghana designed an initiative--the Kayayei Assistance Project (KASPRO), to train the kayayei with alternative livelihood skills while empowering them with knowledge about their Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR). This was aimed at bridging the labour gap in gender and providing them with the right information to stay free from sexual exploitation and abuse.

With KASPRO going into its fourth (4th) phase, Prudential Life Insurance Ghana (PLIG), who having supported previous cohorts of kayayei under project as part of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), came again to renew their partnership and support for KASPRO with a bigger amount of money to reach more vulnerable young women and to support their dreams of living a fulfilled and more dignified life.

At a brief handing over ceremony at their head office in Accra, the CEO of PLIG, Dr. Hazel Amuah, presented a cheque of GHS 450,000 to UNFPA, which was received by the Country Representative, Dr. Wilfred Ochan. The amount was to go into the preparations and implementation of the 4th phase of KASPRO, in order for it to better meet the needs of beneficiaries and also improve the human development index of Ghana.

Speaking at the handing over session, the CEO of PLIG, Dr. Hazel Amuah stated, ‘The goal we have for these funds are primarily to support the kayayei and improve their living conditions.’ She added: ‘We at Prudential value our relationship with UNFPA and intend to support initiatives like this that improve the quality of life of humans.’ On his part, the UNFPA Representative, Dr. Wilfred Ochan expressed gratitude to PLIG saying: “UNFPA is grateful to Prudential for continuous support. The funds will be put to good use and stories of success will be well documented to inspire more support and deliver hope to the less privileged in society.