If, as a woman, somebody suggested you give up a career you have been trained for in order to take up a job in a male dominated environment, what would you do?
Meet one woman who quite literally changed gear and took to the highway as a professional driver.
Esther Attakumah Kokonu, 39 years old and from Galotse in the Volta Region, was working as a Pharmacy Assistant in Twifo Praso when a chance remark made her change career.
Five years ago, she was driving a friend to work when the latter commented favourably on Esther’s driving skills and suggested she seriously consider driving professionally.
Esther loved driving, but was this a wise move?
Fast forward a few months and Esther decided to take a risk and follow her heart’s desire: she got herself a job working alongside a friend who drives trucks for a living.
At first she just watched, helping to load and unload building materials for delivery but before long she had taken over the wheel and was driving the truck herself.
Goal Rush – Compu Ghana
Despite having two twin daughters, now aged 14, Esther was able to fit her new career around caring for her children, working shifts to ensure she was there when needed.
She had a spell working for a construction company building the motorway in Accra before taking up her current job due to better pay and conditions.
Esther now drives a Ford bus, carrying passengers rather than sand and cement.
You will see her regularly as she negotiates the many hazards of the Cape Coast to Accra road each day.
“I love meeting different people,” says Esther, “the passengers appreciate how I drive.
They say we love you and keep it up!”
Confidence
Esther’s cheery personality coupled with her calm confidence behind the wheel means that she rarely gets any harassment about being a woman driver.
However, one man did stop, roll down the window, stare at her and say, “I can tell you’re a stubborn woman!”
But neither early mornings (she starts at 5:00am), difficult road conditions nor rude comments are enough to put Esther off the job she loves.
She is always willing to learn from the team of drivers she works with (all men) and they have built up a loyal camaraderie of the road.
“Being a driver is an interesting job.” says Esther. Would she encourage other women and girls to drive professionally?
“Yes,” agrees Esther, “it’s actually easy. Just be bold and you can do better!” she advises.
Whilst Esther didn’t have any specialist training to become a professional driver, there have been several initiatives in Ghana for women wanting to learn to drive trucks or buses including ‘Women Moving the City’ and ‘Women Moving Trucks’.Ghana politics analysis
Approximately 30 per cent of drivers in Ghana are women yet less than one per cent of the commercial/haulage workforce is female.
Statistically women are safer drivers than men both in Ghana and worldwide.
Data consistently shows that male drivers are more likely to speed and engage in aggressive driving behaviour leading to accidents.
The Ministry of Transport notes that the vast majority of major highway accidents are caused by men.
Female drivers generally exhibit higher caution and better adherence to road regulations.
This is why Ladybird Logistics, the first company to operate an all female commercial driving fleet, was set up and has been contracted by companies in both the mining and the petroleum sectors in Ghana to safely deliver their products.
Last year Star Oil Ghana set up their own team of female tanker drivers.
Trail-blazers
One of the trail-blazers for professional women drivers in Ghana is Esenam Nyador, popularly known as Miss Taxi Ghana.
As well as starting her own taxi company, she’s been the inspiration and driving force behind many of the programmes teaching women to drive professionally in Ghana.
Esther too, although never having met Miss Taxi Ghana, had heard of her and holds her as a role model.
When Esenam heard of Esther’s success as a driver, she was delighted.
“I am sincerely humbled by the ripple effects of a series of advocacy and activism efforts that began in May 2013 and which continue to create opportunities for women to occupy seats in industries and sectors from which they were once largely excluded.”
According to Miss Taxi Ghana, there is a new training programme for professional women drivers in the planning stage.Ghana politics analysis
So women and girls, if you are seeking to drive change and break down barriers, you should look out for the adverts and get motoring!
