How to Ride a Trotro like a Local

If you have been to Ghana, experienced the warm rays of the sun on your skin, seen the hard work of its people in their never ending hustle, the heavy item balanced perfectly on the heads of vendors and the extremely chaotic yet ordered dealings of life on the streets, you have come across a trotro. “Oyalo Oyalo”, the mate will shout, hurry up before the trotro is packed to its limit the next one might not be heading towards your destination.

The trotro which takes commuters to and fro, Ghana’s very own system of transportation, extremely unorganized but still the most preferred means of transportation. If you ask a Ghanaian, why they prefer trotro and he/she will say “The trotro which existed before many were born. The trotro which does for us as it did for our parents.”

So what is a trotro? Trotros are minibuses, usually second-hand that serve as transportation for the majority of the Ghanaian population. Covered in vibrant colours, a visual sight to behold in the busy streets of Ghana, words boldly written on windows with all manner of lore from every creed, religion and school of thought. It is a difficult feat indeed to not get caught up in trying to read all those words as you move from one destination to another in a vehicle.

The Word “Trotro” is said to have been derived from the Ga word “tro” which was the name given to the three pence currency that was the standard bus fare during colonial Ghana. Its colonial roots do not however take from the vital role it plays in Ghanaian society today. To visitors from Europe and some North American, South American and Asian countries this system of transportation will prove quite different and difficult as opposed to the scheduled bus and train systems in their country, the sheer unreliability and chaos that it requires to ride in one could be quite discouraging not to talk of the strength needed in some cases to secure a seat for one’s self in these minibuses. The trotro can never be described as a cosy way to get from place to place, it may not boast of an unparalleled means of luxury transportation however its usefulness cannot be questioned.

So how can you ride a trotro like a local? I’d like to say something along the lines of “it’s as easy as ABC” however I would be fibbing. Finding your way around using the trotro can prove quite difficult but the subsequent tips should help alleviate majority of the stress that comes with riding in a trotro the first few times. First and foremost, have a clear idea about where you would like to go. Trotros like other means of transportation have specific routes they take and specific neighborhoods in which they operate. You would find that it’s easier to relax when you know the exact neighbourhood or area you are travelling to and the bus stops that you have to stop at, so ask around about the stops before you start your journey not forgetting to also enquire about the right bus fares. Bus fares in Ghana do fluctuate from time to time and it’s important to know the range of prices you would be working with to avoid any kind of dishonesty.

Once you know where you would like to go, get to the bus stop and get a trotro. At the bus station look carefully, usually during rush hour you may be forced to take the first trotro that is heading in the direction you are going to, that’s ok everyone has been affected by rush hour before but when you are not in hurry take your time and choose a good trotro. Look out for the buses that look fairly neat on the outside, this means they are less rickety and are most suitable to protect you from the elements be it rain or sunshine. Again during rush hour, you just might have to wrestle your way into a trotro especially when buses moving towards your destination are in short supply.

The journey begins once you enter the trotro. Taking the trotro can be likened to being in a saloon or a barber shop, the conversations never cease to end. Discussions ensue on a myriad of topics from politics to entertainment and then to peoples personal issues. It is fun to listen but desist from sharing your opinions as much as possible and speak only when necessary, these conversations can get quite intense at times. Enjoy the scenery as the vehicle moves they tend to be quite serene. Keep a keen attention on the mates (bus conductors), at a certain point during the journey they will draw your attention to them for payment of your fare, also constantly remind the mate about your stop because they tend to forget from time to time. Mates usually refer to passengers as “Yes” when requesting their fares. The conductor will let you know when you get to your bus stop.

Travelling by trotro can be very tasking, but just like any other practice continuous repetition makes it easier with time. The trotro is an integral part of day-to-day life in Ghana and will continue to be so in the foreseeable future, overtime it has become a key part of Ghanaian culture and is definitely one of the experiences to have if you come to Ghana and you are looking to immerse yourself in culture.