In commemoration of International Women’s Day on March 8, Targeted Rights Initiative organized a community-based event for market women at Mallam Atta Market in Accra Newtown under the theme “Her Mind. Her Money. Her Safety.”
The event brought together dozens of women from the bustling market for a structured session that blended art-based healing, open mental wellness dialogue, and practical digital safety training.
As part of efforts to promote mental wellbeing, the women participated in a simple yet powerful activity: colouring. With colouring sheets and crayons in hand, the market women were encouraged to freely express themselves through colours and patterns.
The exercise allowed many of them to momentarily step away from the daily pressures of trading, family responsibilities, and financial worries.
For many participants, the colouring session became a therapeutic outlet. Some carefully filled their pages with bright colours symbolizing hope and happiness, while others focused quietly on blending shades, using the activity to relax, clear their minds, and release stress.
The initiative responds to growing concerns about the vulnerability of women working in the informal sector, who increasingly face online scams, harassment, and digital exploitation while also carrying significant economic and emotional burdens.
Speaking at the event, TRI Executive Director Doreen Raheena Sulleyman highlighted the need to address women’s economic empowerment alongside their mental health and digital inclusion.
She emphasized that women in informal markets are often left out of conversations around online safety and mental wellness despite being active users of digital tools for business.
“Women’s empowerment is not only about income; it is also about protecting their minds, their finances, and their safety in both physical and digital spaces,” she noted.
Beyond the art-based colouring session, participants were also trained on how to identify online scams, protect their mobile money accounts, and safely navigate digital platforms increasingly used for trading and communication.
A representative of the market women who spoke to the news team described the workshop as timely and impactful, particularly for their mental health.
She explained that the colouring activity helped many of them relax and reflect, adding that the digital safety training would help them better protect their businesses and livelihoods.
The event served as a reminder that supporting women in Ghana’s informal sector requires a holistic approach—one that recognizes their economic contributions while safeguarding their mental wellbeing and digital security.
