By: John S. Morlu II, CPA
Welcome to Ghana — where public transportation isn’t just a way to get from Point A to B. It’s a spiritual experience, a reality show, and sometimes, a group therapy session with a steering wheel.
What Is a Trotro?
For the uninitiated: a trotro is a 12–18-seater minibus that runs on hope, duct tape, and daily prayers. It’s Ghana’s Uber, subway, and rollercoaster all rolled into one.
Trotros have no apps, no receipts, and no mercy. The fare system is a mysterious algorithm that exists only in the conductor’s head — and may change mid-ride based on weather, inflation, or vibes.
The Unwritten Rules
There’s no DMV manual for Ghanaian roads — but every driver and passenger seems to know these sacred rules:
- Traffic lights are decorations.
- If your horn works, you have the right of way.
- Motorcycles are ghosts — they pass anywhere, anytime.
- Your blinker is a suggestion. Your eyes are GPS. Your instincts are Waze.
- Goats and chickens have as much road rights as humans.
One trotro driver told me: “In Ghana, if you follow road rules too much, you’ll never reach.” He then overtook a police car while eating roasted corn.
Trotro Interior Design: Accra Edition
Step into a trotro and behold a mobile museum of Ghanaian improvisation:
- Seats? Held together by zip ties and ancestral hope.
- Ceiling? Lined with faded newspaper or fake Louis Vuitton cloth.
- Dashboard? Covered in Jesus stickers, air fresheners, and at least one broken speedometer.
- Windshield crack? A national treasure — often decorated with the words “God Is In Control.”
One trotro proudly displayed: “No fighting, no swearing, no farting, no preaching — unless anointed.” Yes. You need divine clearance to preach inside a trotro.
Preachers, Hawkers & Theological Warfare
Every trotro is a stage. The real drama begins when the in-bus preacher rises — uninvited — and opens with:
“Brethren, you may die today!”
He then proceeds to:
- Quote three scriptures,
- Sing one off-key gospel song,
- And pass around an envelope for “donations to build the Kingdom.”
All while a hawker interrupts to sell herbal bitters that “cure 99 diseases including heartbreak and poverty.”
Actual Combo One Morning:
- A preacher,
- A guy selling socks,
- A woman selling fried eggs from a cooler,
- And a blind man asking for donations — all at once.
It was less a bus ride and more like Accra’s Got Talent.
Bonus Feature: Livestock Riders
Forget seat belts. Trotros come with bonus passengers:
- Goats tied under seats like obedient toddlers.
- Chickens peeking out of rice sacks.
- A live turkey once sat beside me — it gobbled every time we passed a pothole.
And no one flinches. This is normal. If it breathes and fits — it rides.
Trotros and the Art of Miraculous Fuel Management
Fun fact: Most trotros are permanently almost out of fuel. But the drivers? They have faith. They’ll say: “We go manage,” even if the fuel gauge is lower than the national currency reserves.
When the car stalls? “Small push and we go dey inside!” They push. They pray. It starts. Another miracle logged.
Why It Matters
Trotros are more than transport — they’re a masterclass in Ghanaian innovation, grit, and absurd humor.
You learn:
- How to squeeze between two sweaty strangers without breathing.
- How to balance on a broken seat while eating kenkey.
- How to argue with a conductor in three languages and still pay full price.
And above all — how to laugh, even when you’re sitting on a plastic chair bolted to the floor, next to a goat, with gospel music blasting at 300 decibels.
Final Word
In Ghana, the journey is never just about the destination. It’s about the characters, chaos, and comedy in between.
So next time you’re late, stuck in traffic, and drenched in sweat — remember: Somewhere in Accra, someone is hanging out the window of a moving trotro, selling handkerchiefs, preaching salvation, and trying to make it home before lights out.
This is Ghana — where the wheels may wobble, but the spirit never does.
Author: John S. Morlu II, CPA is the CEO and Chief Strategist of JS Morlu, leads a licensed public accounting and management consultancy firm. He has more than 20 years of professional experience in auditing and advisory work, including service as Auditor General of Liberia and FAR and DCAA compliance work at Unisys Federal Systems. The firm’s technology products include AI-powered reconciliation software (ReckSoft.com) and advanced cloud accounting solutions (FinovatePro.com), built for finance and operations teams.