Legal practitioner and Vice President of IMANI Kofi Bentil has decried the false labeling of government Electric Bus female driver as a head porter or Kayayei.
On Wednesday, 27th November, reports emerged suggesting a trained Kayayei bus driver took Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia on a ride through town in one of the newly commissioned electric buses.
The electric buses were officially commissioned by Dr Bawumia, who also serves as the flagbearer of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).
It was claimed that the occasion marked the graduation ceremony of a special programme aimed at equipping Kayayei (female head porters) with driving skills to enhance their employability and improve their livelihoods.
It was also claimed that the initiative was part of a broader effort to empower marginalised groups in the country.
The footage showed the trained Kayayei bus driver confidently navigating the electric bus with Dr Bawumia on board, symbolising the success of the training programme. Many have lauded the initiative, recognising the transformative impact it could have on the lives of these women.
It has since emerged that the driver was not a Kayayei but a professional driver with Bus Rapid Transportation since 2019.
Reacting to this, Kofi Bentil wrote:
“Learn not to attach lies to big issues. The truth is no match for lies. A small lie over a driver can overshadow the whole Electric busses achievement. Learn the lesson. We move.”