By: John S. Morlu II, CPA
Welcome to Ghana—where a single stretch of road can teach you law, finance, sociology, and snack logistics before lunchtime. Drive ten kilometers and you’ll meet police checkpoints, Mobile Money (MoMo) everything, and a street economy so efficient Amazon would take notes.
Checkpoints 101: The Roadside Classroom
You’ll meet three main species:
- The Routine Stop: Cones, a rope, maybe a tree branch with reflective dreams. Officer waves you down with two fingers and a prayer.
- The Speed & Seatbelt Special: Usually hiding in shade. If your seatbelt is pretending, they will notice.
- The “Documentation Buffet”: Driver’s license, insurance, roadworthy sticker, fire extinguisher, warning triangle—yes, they may ask for all of the above like it’s a scavenger hunt.
Golden rules (tattoo these on your brain):
- Greet first: “Good morning, boss. How’s work?”
- Engine off, windows down, both hands visible. Calm wins.
- Answer short. Smile long. Don’t argue the law from YouTube University.
Fun Fact: A clean dashboard and a working seatbelt reduce conversation by 40%. Science? No. Experience? Yes.
➕ Extra tidbits & examples:
- Cone Geometry: One cone = “talk small.” Three cones = “prepare documents.” Cones + chair = “we’re staying.”
- Glovebox Feng Shui: Papers in a clear folder save you 90 seconds and three heartbeats.
- Seasonal Checkpoints: End-of-month = KPI energy. Holidays = everybody’s friendly; there’s traffic to manage and meat pies to eat.
MoMo Nation: Receipts, “Receipts,” and Road Karma
Ghana runs on MoMo—from fuel to fufu to fixing a flat.
- Real Receipts: When you pay an official fee (towing, fines at the station, parking), ask for a printed or SMS receipt with a reference number. Screenshot it. Save it. Name it “I-Refuse-Stress.pdf.”
- Street Receipts: Some vendors will WhatsApp you a picture of a handwritten slip that looks like it was signed by your nephew. Cute, but…no. Ask for a stamped one or an SMS confirmation.
- Your Personal Paper Trail: Create a MoMo folder on your phone. Any big payment? Save the message. When someone says, “You didn’t pay,” you become Exhibit A.
MoMo Etiquette at a Stop:
If anyone, anywhere, asks you to MoMo a random personal number on the roadside for a “fine,” smile and say:
“Boss, I’m happy to pay at the station and take an official receipt.” That sentence has set more people free than seat adjustments.
➕ Extra tidbits & examples:
- Label Your Payments: “Insurance-Renewal_2025-08-08.” Future-you will thank past-you.
- Dual-Network Trick: Keep MTN + Vodafone lines if you transact a lot. When one network misbehaves, the other acts born-again.
- Refund Reality: Wrong-number MoMo? Call within minutes. After an hour, it becomes a prayer point.
The Roadside Economy: MBA at 30 km/h
At a red light or in traffic, Ghana’s micro-commerce engine wakes up:
- Hydration Bureau: Pure water, drinks, FanIce—priced by temperature and weather forecast.
- Snack Exchange: Plantain chips, bofrot, roasted groundnuts. Buy two; tip one to your soul.
- Auto Accessories Inc.: Phone chargers, wiper blades, dashboard cloths, mysterious cables that will “work, boss.”
- Household IPO: Tissue, pegs, mops, extension boards—and somehow, duvet covers at noon.
Fun Fact: If clouds gather, umbrella futures spike instantly. A 20-cedi umbrella becomes a 50-cedi “limited edition.” Market forces, baby.
How to buy like a pro (without leaving the car):
- Signal the vendor early (eye contact + small wave).
- Confirm price before it touches your seat.
- Keep small notes in a separate pocket. Big notes create “change amnesia.”
- Check the seal. If it’s food, sniff-test—your stomach will thank you.
➕ Extra tidbits & examples:
- Heat Tax: Midday sun adds +2 cedis to cold drinks. Night discounts exist—vendors want to go home too.
- The Hold-and-Go: Vendor jogs with your car while counting change like an Olympian. Keep speed humane.
- Impulse King: Phone holder purchases peak right after the 3rd missed turn.
The “No-Drama” Car Kit (Print and stick in your glove box)
- Valid driver’s license (not your cousin’s)
- Insurance and vehicle papers (clean, readable)
- Seatbelts working for all passengers
- Warning triangle (two is king), small first-aid kit, fire extinguisher
- Power bank, torch, wipes, hand sanitizer
- Small cash (1s, 5s, 10s, 20s) + MoMo balance
- Basic Twi/Ga greeting and a patient smile
Bonus: A roll of clear tape. It fixes number plates, cracked lights, and sometimes your faith.
➕ Extra tidbits & examples:
- Spare Change Pouch: A zip bag in the door pocket = no wallet gymnastics.
- Paper Towel Diplomacy: Offer one to an officer mid-downpour; suddenly you’re colleagues.
- Triangle Theater: Practice the Simba lift (triangle held high). Confidence sells compliance.
The Conversation Script (Screenshot This)
Officer: “Good morning. Documents.”
You: “Good morning, boss. Please—license, insurance.” (hand over)
Officer: “Where are you going?”
You: “Airport side, sir.” (short & sweet)
Officer: “Your triangle?”
You: (show it like Simba in Lion King) “Yes, sir.”
Officer: “There’s a fine…”
You: “No problem, sir. I’ll pay at the station and collect official receipt.” (smile; no heat)
Nine times out of ten, the temperature drops.
➕ Extra versions to keep handy:
- If you genuinely erred: “I understand, boss. Next time I’ll do better. We can go to the station.” (Ownership lowers blood pressure.)
- If you’re rushed but respectful: “Please, I’m late for a flight/appointment. Papers are in order. If there’s an issue, station is fine.”
- If passenger is chatty: Pre-brief them: “We smile. We say little. We go.”
MoMo Power Moves (So You Don’t Cry Later)
- Name your payments: “Towing_2025-08-01,” “Windshield_Wipers_July.”
- Message backups: Forward MoMo confirmations to your email.
- Vendor vetting: When paying a private tow or service, ask for business name + number. Google later; sleep better.
- Refund jiu-jitsu: Sent to the wrong number? Call your provider immediately. Time is everything.
➕ Extra tidbits & examples:
- Screenshot + Star: Star the transaction in your messages. On Android/iOS, it becomes findable in 3 seconds at a stop.
- Proof Stack: Photo of item + vendor number + MoMo confirmation = indisputable bundle.
- Payment Split: For bigger roadside fixes, pay 70% now, 30% on completion. Motivation is a tool.
Mini Case Studies (Too Real to Be Fiction)
Case 1: The Seatbelt Saga
Officer: “You weren’t wearing seatbelt.”
You (already buckled): “I understand, boss. We can go to the station. I’ll pay and take receipt.”
Outcome: Seatbelt lecture + wave-through. Your calm saved your timetable.
Case 2: The Windshield Wiper Miracle
It rains. Your wipers perform interpretive dance. Vendor appears with “original” blades.
You: “Test first.”
Vendor installs; you MoMo after it actually wipes water, not hope.
Outcome: Vision + dignity.
Case 3: The Change Vanished
You hand 200 cedis for a 15-cedi item. Vendor “goes for change” into Narnia.
Pro tip: Never release large notes into the ether. Hold the note; let them fetch change first.
➕ More “seen it, survived it” examples:
- Triangle Tourism: Officer asks; you present two triangles. He smiles like proud uncle. Wave-through.
- Extinguisher Show-and-Tell: Dusty but valid? Wipe it on your shirt. Presentation matters.
- Wrong Turn Mercy: Admit the wrong turn early: “Boss, I’m new on this road.” Kindness unlocks shortcuts.
Economics at the Shoulder of the Road
- Checkpoints create markets. Where cars slow, vendors thrive.
- MoMo lowers friction. More sales, fewer “I don’t have change.”
- Trust = currency. The vendor who remembers you gets your cedis forever.
- Data beats drama. MoMo receipts + small cash + cool head = a boring, beautiful trip.
➕ Extra tidbits:
- Weather = Pricing: Heat boosts beverage margins; rain boosts umbrella + wiper revenue.
- Payday Fridays: Roadside inventory multiplies. People buy feelings, not just things.
- Diaspora Season (Dec): USD brain, cedi street—prices float. Smile and negotiate.
Tiny Phrasebook to Soften Stone
- Twi: “Me paakyɛw, boss—me reko airport.” (Please, boss—I’m going to the airport.)
- Ga: “Ojekoo. Mɛkpɔ mɔ ni shishi?” (Greetings. How much is this?)
- Universal: “Boss, I appreciate your work.”
Respect melts ice faster than sun.
➕ Add a little charm:
- Twi: “Me da wo ase.” (Thank you.)
- Ga: “Akpe.” (Thanks—Ewe.)
- Universal+: Offer a cold water sachet if you’ve got a pack. Humanity is legal tender.
Final Word
Ghana’s roads may test your patience, but they’ll also sharpen your people skills, money sense, and composure. Keep your papers clean, your MoMo organized, your cash small, and your smile large.
Because out here, the calm driver wins, the documented driver wins, and the polite driver arrives on time—with snacks.
📖 Coming Up Next: Chapter 23: Accra Nightlife — Shisha, Small Chops, and Big Bills
Author: John S. Morlu II, CPA is the CEO and Chief Strategist of JS Morlu, leads a globally recognized public accounting and management consultancy firm. Under his visionary leadership, JS Morlu has become a pioneer in developing cutting-edge technologies across B2B, B2C, P2P, and B2G verticals. The firm’s groundbreaking innovations include AI-powered reconciliation software (ReckSoft.com) and advanced cloud accounting solutions (FinovatePro.com), setting new industry standards for efficiency, accuracy, and technological excellence.