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Fortitude of a Mother: Rukaya Mohammed Lamptey opens up on life as a commercial driver
It was 3pm one Thursday afternoon, and Rukaya Mohammed Lamptey had just returned from a trip to Ablekuma. She is engaged in a chit-chat with some male drivers as she waits for her turn to pick another set of passengers.
This hardworking lady became a commercial driver four years ago having spent some time under ‘apprenticeship’ as a driver’s mate. She does not have her own vehicle but takes over from her ‘Master’ whenever duty calls.
Although this has not been her career ambition, the mother of two says she has come to terms with the realities of life and is determined to go all length to cater for her family through the right path.
On the occasion of Mothers’ Day, the 27-year-old opened up on how she has been coping with the job and why she does not want her children to suffer similar fate.
Background
Rukaya speaks good English but could not complete basic education due to lack of financial support. She, therefore, turned to petty trading to make ends meet and had her first child at age 17.
“My mother did her best to take care of us but I dropped out of school in ‘Form One’ and started working. I started trading to support myself until I met a young man who became the father of my first son,” she told The Spectator.
Being the fourth of seven siblings, she took up other menial jobs including becoming a driver’s mate (bus conductor) but was not motivated to learn driving as she feared the many collisions some drivers were involved in.
After the first child, she met another young man who started teaching her how to drive but the lessons, she said, led to “dating and marriage.”
The union lasted eight years and they had to go their separate ways following a divorce eight months ago.
Driving
Rukaya said when times were getting tougher, she approached an experienced driver (Mr Smart Nkansah aka Nsawam) at the Odawna Bus terminal to help her perfect her driving skills so she could take up driving as a permanent occupation.
The kind driver, she said, agreed to take her through structured lessons until she was confident enough to start transporting passengers to their destinations.
“I was able to learn within four to five months and drive on my own without instruction. My new master has been a father figure who sometimes hands over the vehicle to me to drive when he is off duty,” she said, expressing appreciation for the support she had received over the years.
Reactions
On her daily trip from Circle to Ablekuma, she gets mixed reactions from commuters who board her vehicle. While some are happy to see a lady behind the steering wheel, other passengers, she said, doubted her ability to take them to their destination safely.
“Those who have ever boarded my vehicle defend me when some first-timers pass derogatory comments about me.
“I used to feel offended and would sometimes think of quitting but my master tells me not to take things to heart if I, indeed, want to achieve something for myself.
“It takes determination and a brave heart to be on this job. A lot of people now know my car so they wait for me to pick them at the terminal when I am on duty,” she said.
In spite of the risk and the ‘friendly contest’ on the road with male drivers, the lively and industrious woman says she is impressed with the progress made and feels proud as a professional driver.
Challenges
Talking about earnings, she stated that income from the road trips remained inadequate for her and the children’s upkeep.
She said she had expended her personal savings on her children after the divorce, and sometimes spent the night in the vehicle.
“My master has given me a place but I am yet to put finishing touches to the place before I can move in.
“Every week, I spend quite significant amount on the upkeep of my mother and children. If I had my own car, things would have been a bit better,” she explained.
She plans to acquire her own commercial vehicle in the shortest possible time in addition to establishing a viable transport company in future, if she gets the needed support from people.
Advice
Not feeling dejected, Rukaya says she has learnt a lot of lessons and would want to further her education to the highest level, if she gets the chance.
She has advised young girls to be wary of the antics of some men and work hard, be independent and remain focused on their ambitions in life.
Good music and the love for her children, she says, have been her source of inspiration and she would continue to push hard until she sees light at the end of the tunnel.
By Ernest Nutsugah
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Health Minister leads delegation Mimi Darko’s appointment as AMA Director General
Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Minister for Health and Member of Parliament has led a delegation to secure the appointment of Dr Delese Mimi Darko, Chief Executive Officer of the Food and Drugs Authority, as the Director General of the African Medicines Agency (AMA) during the ongoing 2nd Ordinary Session of the Conference of State Parties in Kigali, Rwanda.
This prestigious appointment, achieved through a competitive process, marks a proud and historic moment for Ghana and the entire continent.
It highlights Dr. Darko’s exceptional leadership, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to enhancing public health and regulatory systems across Africa.
The Minister expressed his deep appreciation to President John Dramani Mahama for his strong support and leadership throughout this process.
Mr.Akandoh congratulated Dr. Mimi Darko and Team Ghana for their incredibly successful campaign.
The AMA was established by the African Union on November 5, 2021, with the primary objective of improving access to quality, safe, and effective medical products throughout the continent. Its creation aims to facilitate the regulation and oversight of essential medicines at a continental level while promoting collaboration among African countries and regions.
The Agency’s mission is to provide leadership in creating an enabling regulatory environment for the pharmaceutical sector in Africa, ensuring that the African population has access to essential medical products and technologies.
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Police arrest five suspects involved in robbery cases in Ashanti Region
The Police Intelligence Directorate (PID) in the Ashanti Region has informed the public about a recent breakthrough in the fight against armed robbery in the Denchemuoso District.
Following a series of robbery incidents in the area, on April 22, 2025, PID/Ashanti operatives, acting on credible intelligence, apprehended one Michael Owusu Ansah, alias Baby Last, aged 32.
The suspect had been on the police wanted list since 2016 in connection with a robbery and the murder of Police Officer G/Cpl Frank Essel of SWAT/Ashanti, which occurred at the Open Space Hotel in Denchemuoso on May 19, 2016.
During interrogation, the suspect confessed to engaging in multiple street and residential robberies in Denchemuoso, Atwima-Techiman, Asuoyeboah, and surrounding areas.
He also disclosed that his gang operated with knives, pistols, and pump-action guns.
Further investigations led to the identification and arrest of his accomplices, namely:Emmanuel Owusu, alias Cassidy, Maxwell Gyimah, alias Nana Kwame, Sudais Oxford Ntiamoah, alias The Man Sudais and Rhano Okyere, alias Demon
These individuals were arrested from their hideouts within Atwima-Techiman and Denchemuoso.
However, one suspect, remains at large and efforts are underway to apprehend him and recover the weapons used in the robberies.
All five arrested suspects were arraigned before the Atasomanso Circuit Court on May 13, 2025.
They were remanded into police custody and are scheduled to reappear on June 4, 2025.
