OF WATER, WOUNDS AND WILLPOWER - Surviving Gender Based Violence


 

As I approached Araba, a sachet water hawker at the Odawna bus terminal, I was met with a sight that would take me a bit longer to delete from my memory.

She was a young mother, with a 7-month-old baby strapped to her back and another life growing within her.
She was seated in her own world, oblivious to the blistering sounds of the ghetto blaster near her. On her head was a bucket of sachet water, balanced effortlessly. Her eyes craved for more sleep which might have eluded her all night. But they were eyes that told a story of unyielding resilience.

Soon, we were lost in a casual conversation. I discovered that Araba's life had been an odyssey of pain, abuse, and neglect.

Her marriage, once a promise of love and companionship, had morphed into a nightmare of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse.

With a courage that uplifted her fragile frame, Araba shared her story of escape from the fangs of her predator "husband" and finding solace on the streets of Accra. Her humble wooden structure home has become her sanctuary and haven of comfort.

Araba watched as the event rolled on, and all she could recollect was the unforgettable story of the father of her children, who was a trotro driver.

The bus terminals, taxi ranks, and bus stops are big stage stories, including the tragic stories of gender-based abuse and violence filled with villains preying on tragic heroines.

But with the concerted efforts of UNFPA Ghana, MTN Ghana, and GPRTU, in the 16 Routes, 16 Stations Campaign, a new narrative is unfolding, one of hope, resilience, and transformation.

As I bid Araba farewell, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at her strength, a sense of gratitude for her story, and a sense of hope for a future where no woman, no girl, would ever have to endure the horrors of gender-based violence.

A campaign against gender based violence is a campaign for a healthy society.

Congratulations to all who are involved in ensuring the success of campaign.

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