Kayayo "Pao Paa"

The Kayayo, a group of women and girls from Ghana's northern region, migrate to southern cities for work as porters in marketplaces. This migration is an annual phenomenon, with thousands leaving poorer communities in the North. As Kayayo, they carry heavy loads for meager pay, often facing homelessness due to scarce job opportunities and housing.

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The motivation for their journey stems from escaping the North's subsistence farming, where girls often engage in housework and sibling care instead of schooling due to inadequate education, infrastructure, and healthcare. Some are compelled by families to earn income, while others seek refuge from early marriages and limited employment prospects.

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These women work seasonally, often returning home to assist with farming. While some strive to modernize their lives in cities, the underlying reason for their migration remains the same: escaping a cycle of poverty, early marriages, and unfavorable conditions. The majority earn around 15 Ghana Cedis per day, and many become teenage mothers due to sexual violence, often raising their children at work due to a lack of facilities. Educational deficiencies contribute to their predicaments, with some resorting to unsafe abortions and facing abandonment by those responsible for their pregnancies.