Tro-Tros...

Heading down a street in Accra.

The most convenient way to get around is via Tro-Tro. The EAP office is strongly against students riding in Tro-Tros in Ghana. They claim they are dangerous and unsafe. While this warning does hold some truth, I felt like it was such a cheap and convenient way to get around, I couldn’t resist.

This is a Tro-Tro:


Sometimes, I felt like the rest of the world sent their near-broken-down vehicles to Ghana, where Ghanaian Tro-Tro drivers would then run them into the ground.



Here’s how it works.

There are designated Tro-Tro stops all across Accra. The closest stop to campus is right outside the main entrance. If you walk out of the campus main entrance and head toward your right, you could find a Tro-Tro to Osu, Circle, Accra Market (aka Makola), among others. If you cross the street and take a Tro-Tro, you would be heading toward a closer and smaller Madina Market (where I did most of my grocery shopping).

As Tro-Tros drive by, a “Mate” will be shouting the Tro-Tros destinations out the window. Sometimes, when demand is low, they will stop and wait at a stop until the car fills up. This usually occurs for longer distance trips.

If you flag it down and get on a Tro-Tro, the Mate will be near the door rushing you in. They will also collect your money based on your destination, and will alter the driver to stop at these said destinations. I feel like these doors are sometimes unreliable, so I feel that the Mate is also there to hold the door shut. This can be seen below.



Again, the EAP office heavily warns against riding Tro-Tros because they feel that riding in them is dangerous. For example, this one time, the tire blew out on me while I was on my way back from a trip. Luckily, when this happens, make sure your driver does not slam on the breaks and instead, lets the car stop on its own and he steers it towards the side of the road. Any skilled Tro-Tro driver should know this.

Usually, for short trip, this is less of a worry. If a Tro-Tro breaks down, you can just get out and hop on another one. For longer distance trips though, you might want to make sure you get a newer looking Tro-Tro, or perhaps ride a bus instead. (Bus times and routes are pretty set, and can be found in the Lonely Planet Ghana Guide).



However, when stuff like this (above picture explains) happens, everyone is really quick to help. If there is no spare on the car, or in case the spare is flat too, other drivers with spares have been known to stop and help.

Here’s what the inside of a Tro-Tro may look like. This is the EAP/campus Tro-Tro that we took once in a while. Often times, I found Tro-Tros I hired myself to be much more crowded. There is so such rule as one passenger per safety belt, so they usually just stuff the Tro-Tro full of people. If you feel unsafe though, never be scared to get out and get in a newer, less crowded Tro-Tro. Most drivers I met were pretty sensible, but there were a few that really wanted to make that extra fare.



The best part of riding a Tro-Tro is reading the signs on other Tro-Tros.





I rode countless Tro-Tros during my five months in Ghana. I feel like you’d miss out if you didn’t ride it at least once in Ghana.



However, if things just don’t feel right, there are also Taxi’s everywhere that you can take. and with Taxi’s, always feel free to bargain down their prices. Never pay more than 1/3 of what they start with.