Women behind the wheel of commercial vehicles are no longer a rare sight. Increasingly, they are also carving a place for themselves in ride-hailing services.
Last week, this reporter rode with Miss Joyce Kakariba Kanyi, a driver with Uber, a popular ride-hailing service, and was struck by her confidence as she expertly navigated the late-night Odorkor–Kasoa traffic in Accra.
Beyond her confidence at the wheel, a poster behind her seat advertised services ranging from weekly school pickups and drop-offs to daily return trips outside Accra and rates for pickups by appointment.
That poster did more than advertise her services — it provided a glimpse into her entrepreneurial spirit. It was that poster which sparked a conversation and eventually led to an interview.
During the brief chat, she revealed that she preferred working at night, noting that the 9 p.m. drop-off was only her first trip of the shift.
Providing special services
When The Mirror spoke to her at the Graphic Head office in Accra on Wednesday, she explained that she had thought of ways to earn more income when she decided to join the service as a driver.
“I realised that being a woman and a mother, more people would be comfortable entrusting their children in my care, so I started advertising that service.
“Within a short period, that service became oversubscribed, and I had even to turn a few away. Parents realised how I interact with the children, correct them if need be, and even settle little siblings’ fights. This service increases my weekly earnings and makes it easier for me to pay for the car,” she explained.
She said the vehicle she currently uses was provided to her on a work-and-pay basis by the service provider with daily targets. Once a driver failed to meet the agreed payment deadlines, the provider locked the driver out of the app.
Night driving
On night driving, she explained that navigating her way through the app and map during the day when she first started was difficult. She, therefore, decided to start work at night when the roads were less busy.
She said that what was to be a learning exercise turned into her favourite driving time over time. These days, she can start a shift at 6 p.m. and drive till six in the morning.
Asked if she did not fear being attacked at night, she said she was cautious with the requests she picked and paid attention to the conversation lines of the people she picked. She said that she cancelled the trip when she felt uneasy about a rider.
“I have realised that sometimes it is even the riders who are scared that a woman will drive them at night. When I accept their requests and they see my profile, they call to confirm if it’s really a woman picking them up or a man posing as a woman. Once I confirm, they feel at ease and let me pick them,” she said.
Earning a decent living
Miss Kanyi said she decided to be a commercial driver on ride-hailing apps about three years ago to save some money and pursue her dream of becoming a midwife.
She is pursuing a Nurse Assistant Clinical Certificate at the Family Health University at Teshie, Accra. After completing her studies, she plans to apply for a Bachelor of Science in Midwifery.
‘’The night shifts also help me find time for my classes, which are usually during the day. When I have classes that day, I work briefly at night, rest, and then leave for class.’’
Asked if she would stop commercial driving once she becomes a nurse, she said, “Oh no, this is always a cool way to earn some extra cash. Even now, on my way to class, I set the app to pick trips along that route and I do the same while returning home. My plan is to be able to fully pay for the car within the allocated time, save more money, and buy more cars.”
Challenges
She explained her main challenge was the pressure to meet her weekly targets. As a mother and primary caregiver, balancing long hours of driving and managing the home and her dependents is exhausting.
“I wish women had more flexible driving or payment plans. There are days when even before you start driving, you are already tired from chores and responsibilities at home, but you have to keep going so you don’t default on your payments, and it gets stressful,” she noted.
Although the job has its challenges, she is pleased to have learned to drive professionally and is able to support her family and herself.
Before that, she worked as a Mobile Money salesgirl until she enrolled at a driving school.
‘’Initially, when I discussed my plans to become a commercial driver, most people I spoke to discouraged me. To them, even men struggled on these apps, and there was no way I would succeed. Once I decided, I stopped talking to others about it, learnt to drive and got my licence. It was an arduous struggle to get a vehicle.
The car owners I approached didn’t think I could do the job, but eventually I got my first car. If I had listened to all those discouraging comments, I’m not sure I would have been able to save for my nursing course.
With my current vehicle, once I’m done paying, it becomes my property,” she explained.
Determination paying off
For young women who may feel that certain roles are only for men, she has some advice. She believes that if you have a passion for something, you should not let stereotypes hold you back. Instead, work hard and strive to achieve your dreams.
Despite facing criticism in the early days of her career, she has proven her critics wrong. Joyce has seen a significant improvement in her living conditions, thanks to her hard work and determination.
‘’The vehicle I drive now has a manual transmission, which many women may not be comfortable with,” she shared. “When I decided to become a commercial driver, I made sure to learn how to handle any vehicle well during my time at driving school. This way, I was prepared for any challenge,” she added.
Email: efiaamoakoa2@gmail.com
