Senior lecturer and a transport geographer with the Department of Geography and Regional Planning here in the University of Cape Coast, Dr. Regina Amoako- Sakyi is calling on government to include women when making policies for the transport sector of the country.
She notes that in Ghana, most issues are actually gendered and transport is no different.
Dr. Mrs. Amoako-Sakyi further indicates that although Ghana’s transport sector seems to have been masculinized, the time has come for government to tailor polices that will give women access to the assets of the transport sector.
She stresses that women must be involved in the planning processes of developing policies for the transport sector.
“You cannot develop a policy for people when they are not involved in the planning of that particular policy… Unfortunately, most African governments are not involving women,” she laments.
Dr. Mrs. Amoako-Sakyi gave the recommendation on ATL FM’s ATLANTIC WAVE during the Time with the Centre for Gender Research, Advocacy and Documentation segment where the conversation was centered on gender and transport and how existing barriers in the transport sector can be broken to ensure that all genders especially vulnerable groups have equal access to transport assets.
She adds that when women are involved in the planning process, they should be given a listening ear.
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“When they come there let’s listen to their needs and address the needs in these policies that we enact.”
On her part, the Director of CEGRAD here in the University of Cape Coast, Dr. Georgina Yaa Oduro emphasized the need to consider challenged groups when it comes to the country’s public transport system.
“We also need to take into consideration some marginalized groups like the physically challenged when it comes to our buses. Out there as soon as the bus stops something pulls out that you can wheel on with your tricycle or wheelchair,” she says.
Dr. Mrs. Oduro believes gender and transport is a very important area that needs to be given much attention adding that her outfit will continue to bring different gender issues for the education of the public.
Source: Emmanuella Ama Gyamfi/ATLFMNEWS
