IWD: Targeted Rights Initiative trains Mallam Atta market women on digital safety, mental wellness

In commemoration of International Women’s Day, the Targeted Rights Initiative has organized a free educational outreach for market women in Accra.

The outreach, which focused on mental wellness, digital safety, and economic empowerment, took place at the popular Mallam Atta Market on Thursday, March 5, 2026.

The program aimed to educate traders on the dangers of social media fraud, online harassment, and digital misinformation, while also encouraging them to prioritize their mental health amid the pressures of daily market activities.

Speaking at the event, the Executive Director of the Targeted Rights Initiative, Doreen Raheena Sulleyman, explained that the outreach was part of activities marking International Women’s Day.

“We gathered here today to commemorate International Women’s Day, which falls on March 8. We chose market women because they are the pillars of every household. They bring food from the farms to the markets, and through their hard work families are able to eat,” she said.

She noted that the initiative was also designed to acknowledge the stress traders experience and to encourage them to take time to care for their mental well-being.

“In as much as we celebrate them, we also recognize the stress they go through every day. We are encouraging them to take time to rest when necessary and to take care of their mental health,” she added.

Ms. Sulleyman emphasized that many traders are increasingly becoming targets of mobile money fraud and other online scams. According to her, the training helped participants understand how to identify genuine mobile money messages from telecommunication providers and how to distinguish them from fraudulent messages sent by scammers.

“We educated them on how to identify mobile money fraud, how to stay safe online, and what steps to take if they become victims of such attacks,” she explained.

Participants were also introduced to deepfake technology and how such digital manipulations can be used to mislead people online.

Addressing the youth, Ms. Sulleyman urged social media users to be mindful of their online behavior.

“Social media never forgets. If you do not have anything good to say on someone’s post, it is better not to comment at all. Derogatory comments and online insults can cause serious emotional harm to people,” she cautioned.

The event also featured a creative art therapy session led by artist Nii Quaye, who guided the market women through painting activities aimed at helping them relax and release stress.

One of the beneficiaries, market trader Faustina Owusua, expressed appreciation to the organizers.

“We are very happy for this program. We have learned how to identify mobile money fraud and the difference between genuine messages from telecom companies and those from fraudsters,” she said.

She added that the knowledge gained would help them remain more vigilant in their daily business activities and online interactions.

Story by: Fati Ali Wehyemeh