Though statistics may not be available, women drivers are generally said to be better than their male counterparts.  At least the Metro Mass Transport’s recent attempts to recruit more women drivers into their pool were argued publicly on those lines.  Women are more careful on the road and generally do not take short cuts where traffic regulations are concerned.

And so, as a female driver, the chances of being called a bitch are high if you play it a little tough on the road and refuse to allow a  male driver to carelessly cross you in traffic.  Unfortunately, on a day when the world was celebrating International Women’s Day last Saturday, 8th March, I suffered the wrath of an aggressive male driver. 

By refusing to let him cross my vehicle, this driver who was trailing behind me in traffic around the Cantonments Land’s Commission traffic lights suddenly shot past me as we reached the Aviation road driving towards the airport.  As he came abreast, he gave me a look that seemed to remind me, in case I had forgotten, that I am a woman so I should not play it tough with him even though I had the right of way.  The fact is he would not have allowed a “Tro-tro” or taxi driver to have done same to him.

As International Women’s Day therefore, there was enough in the media last Saturday, 8th March, to remind us that it is a day when the world gives some serious attention to recognising the contribution of women to development.  The theme for this year’s celebration, “Inspiring Change”, sounds very appropriate.  Generally, women play a positive role as change agents wherever they found themselves.  

The world marked the day with various events that focused attention on women and their role in development.  In the UK, they recorded 418 events that marked that single Day.  In the US, there were 260 events while Australia, had 158, Canada had 152, India 90 and Nigeria 29.  Countries  such as Zambia, Uganda and Burkina Faso are said to have even declared the day a public holiday while in the US, the whole month of March has been set aside as “Women’s month”. 

Here in Ghana, there were a few events to mark the day.  The Zonta Club of Accra hosted a panel discussion on issues central to women and children’s welfare in the context of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).  Panellists included Ms. Susan Ngungi, the Acting UN Resident Co-ordinator and the UNICEF Representative in Ghana, Dr. Grace Bediako of the National Development Planning Commission and Professor Clara Fayorsey of the Department of Sociology, University of Ghana.

The panellists identified some challenges concerning women’s issues as set out in the MDGs.  These included quality education, maternal and child health, poverty, access to services and inequality such as exists in small farms.

The good thing is that as natural agents of change, there is hope that with the appropriate interventions and political will, these critical areas should make some vast differences in the lives of women and ultimately, a better improved society.

Despite the violence and discrimination that women continue to face socially, politically and economically, they continue to inspire change in their communities.  In Ghana for example, despite the fact that on the political front only 10.9 percent of women occupy seats in Parliament, on the corporate front, there seems to have been major advancements with more women taking key leadership positions.

Overall, our going forward would depend on how we are able to take advantage of the now and build on it for a better tomorrow.  While we all present ourselves as advocates  of inspired change in our small ways, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection should take up the bigger advocacy role and institutionalise coaching and counselling of young girls, including Kayayei, to take up challenges and be future change agents.

Experience, they say, is the best teacher.  We have successful women entrepreneurs in this country, some of whom are of international repute.  There should be some form of co-ordination and direction where these women would coach and mentor young girls across the country.

In all the professions, we have women excelling at the top.  We have women progressing in politics, manufacturing, in medicine, in law, in the media, in nursing, in teaching, in the academia, in accountancy, in sports, in the clergy, in the fashion and hairdressing industries, to mention but a few.   We need a body to co-ordinate and get women from all the professions to coach and mentor young girls to take up leadership roles that would help not only to bridge the gender equality gap but also create the needed change in society.

The UN theme for the celebration of this year’s International Women’s Day encourages advocacy for women’s advancement.  It is a fact that in a society where women have opportunities to advance, that society thrives.  That is what the theme; “Inspiring Change” is all about.   

What can we do in Ghana?  The challenge is to begin to identify what advocacy support we could give everyday, all the time, to our young girls to guide and inspire change.  Institutionalised coaching and mentoring is a sure bet.