Return Home and Study Hairdressing, Sewing - GHABA President

kayayei

The Northern Regional President of the Ghana Hairdressers and Beauticians Association (GHABA), Hajia Azara Bawa has advised young girls who migrate from the North to the Southern part of Ghana to engage in Kayaye, prostitution and other menial jobs to return home and study hairdressing or Sewing in order to have better a future.

 

According to her, there were several hundreds of young girls from the region who were living under harsh conditions in Accra and Kumasi who could have received livelihood or skilled training to become self-reliant. 

But lack of encouragement coupled with the lack of proper parental care and community support, she said, had forced majority of the girls end up doing all manner of dehumanizing jobs including kayaye, maidservant and prostitution among others.

The Northern Regional President of the Ghana Hairdressers and Beauticians Association, Hajia Azara Bawa gave the advice in Tamale at the graduation ceremony of 41 apprentices who underwent three years of studies in hairdressing and cosmetology. 

The colourful ceremony was under the theme: “Training the unskilled through professionalism”. The Northern Regional GHABA President said that the Association had over the years trained its members through seminars and workshops in the proper use and application of chemicals on their clients. 

She noted that German organisation GIZ was one of the lead organizations supporting the Association members in diverse ways to become more professional and to meet international standards in their businesses. 

Graduates

According to her, the Hairdressing and Beautician profession had become more attractive and lucrative for people who naturally have the passion and the desire to venture. “Gone are the days when people regarded our profession as a preserve for illiterates or uneducated women, but now I can say confidently that this profession is attractive to university graduates and other tertiary students”.

Hajia Azara Bawa on the other hand appealed to the graduates to start up their businesses in their own small way rather than becoming liabilities on their relatives and spouses.

“If you start it even in your veranda or porch with time you can open your own shop and equip it to any standard you want. So don’t just go home and sleep or waste your time on needless ventures but you can start something now”.

She also advised them to further their education at the various institutions and upgrade their skills. 

The Special Guest of Honour, Rev. Isaac Adjei of the Christian Mission Dunamis Church congratulated the girls for their humility, dedication and hard work throughout their studies. 

He encouraged them to be self confident and embrace the modern way of beautifying their clients as they set up their own businesses.

One of the graduates, Ms Doris Nagua Quaye on behalf of her colleagues expressed gratitude to God and their trainers. Certificates were presented to all the 41 graduates and three outstanding apprentices were also honoured by GHABA Executives.