Transaid Project puts Women Market Traders Back in the Driving Seat

A Transaid project in Accra, Ghana is assisting market women to own, manage and control their own fleet of transport to help reduce the transport burden they face. Women traders are the backbone of Accra's inhabitants in terms of food supply. However, these women are marginalised in getting vehicles to transport their goods to and from the market. Reliance on unsuitable and unreliable transport is expensive, time-consuming and unsafe, with the risk of theft or assault posing a likely threat. Walking and waiting for transport means a working day can stretch between 4am to 11pm.

The project currently sees the women trained to drive, maintain and cost-effectively implement their own transport management system (TMS) using the Iveco Daily vans. The dynamic and enthusiastic women of Accra are keen to use Transaid’s transport management system to operate their businesses properly and to fund the purchase of further vehicles. It is hoped that by extending into other parts of the region, thousands of other female market traders will also benefit from this powerful new programme.

Transaid are celebrating their 10^th anniversary this year and you can find out more by visiting their website: www.transaid.org