In Accra, the capital town of Ghana, a minibus, often known as ‘trotro’, is more than just a vehicle for public transport; it is a living space where diverse stories, cultures, and values collide.
Every weekday morning, thousands of commuters pack into these shared minibuses, where strangers sit shoulder to shoulder and mates chant routes in rhythmic tones that echo through the city.
With music playing softly and windows half-opened to combat the heat, each ride becomes a communal experience.
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Discussions on politics, football, and religion flow freely, transforming the trotro into an informal classroom, and although not everyone participates in the discussion, some often nod in agreement or disagreement with the ongoing discussion.
Street vendors approach at every stop, selling water, snacks, phone accessories, and a lot more.
Slogans like “no weapon” or “who Jah bless” adorn the back windows, revealing deep personal convictions. Yet, the system faces mounting pressure.
Heavy traffic at peak hours, particularly between 0700hours and 0900hours and again from 1630hours to 2000hours, as workers struggle to reach their destinations.
Long queues at terminals, sometimes over an hour, underscore the daily struggle.
Many people argue that the delay associated with boarding a trotro affects productivity and resistance by some drivers in reducing fares, even though they increase fares immediately after fuel prices increase, a situation they said must be addressed.
Mr Tony-Dickson Afriford, Road Crash and Injury Prevention Analyst, speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), called for urgent reforms in the country’s road engineering system to incorporate dedicated cycle lanes on both highways and urban roads as the population of the country grows.
He proposed that all new road construction projects, as well as ongoing upgrades, must include designated cycle lanes that are physically separated from motor vehicle traffic.
He added that such infrastructure would not only protect cyclists but also encourage more people to adopt cycling as a healthy, affordable, and environmentally friendly mode of transport.
Mr Afriford explained that cycling had become a major part of the transport system in some countries due to the presence of safe and well-maintained cycling infrastructure and believes Ghana could achieve similar success if there was the political will and investment to support such change.
The analyst further urged city planners, engineers, and the Ministry of Roads and Highways to prioritise the safety of non-motorized road users in their planning frameworks, and she also appealed to local assemblies to invest in road markings, signage, and public awareness campaigns on cyclist safety.
He said this would encourage more people to use such alternative transport, making the roads have less traffic for vehicles such as the trotro to ply and reach their destination without too many delays.
In Accra, the trotro remains a personal and social mode of transportation. It is a space where differences coexist and where daily life is both ordinary and meaningful.
GNA
