Transportation in Ghana (Your Guide to Getting Around in Accra) And What is a Trotro?

Getting around in Accra is exciting... and a bit scary. Check out some of the most popular ways to get around in Ghana plus helpful tips to make it easier on you.
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[@notmymonkeynotmycircus8244]

My first time visiting I wanted to experience all of Ghana. Man, my first time riding in a trotro they hit a bump and my head went to the ceiling of the van. I was done. It was hilarious.

[@ExpatLifeGhana]

@@notmymonkeynotmycircus8244 - Reason #1 why Tony won't ride in one and thanks for the comment 😊!

[@asareboateng2117]

Haha

[@selfella]

Oh, my days. See, there were benefits to the tro tros being roofless back in the day when I was kid.

[@Sun-Kissedfeliciaedwards]

I love the TroTros. I learned my way around Accra and the surrounding areas riding them and their very inexpensive and fun to ride especially when they are not crowded. Plus there is no long wait period for them, they are everwhere❣️

[@sillaroseedwa9933]

I was born in Jamaica, a USA citizen. When I go to Jamaica, I have ridden the local taxis, they are regulated by the government, and they have to charge the set price. Sometimes, taxi drivers sometimes overcrowd the car, but otherwise, it's not so bad

[@barbaramosley8123]

Kudos To You💯‼️👀 Respectfully I’m A 67 Years Tender Age Senior And My Beloved Was Born, Raised-Up In GHANA AND LEFT GHANA AND CAME TO AMERICA TO LIVE A BETTER LIFE AND HE MET MY BELOVED MOTHER AND BOTH OF THEM PASSED AWAY‼️👀 HUMILITY AND TRUE PEACE ✌️ONE DAY AT A TIME AMEN TO THE MOST HIGH GOD💯‼️👀

[@ExpatLifeGhana]

@@barbaramosley8123 - Oh wow the better life is here and thanks for the comment 😊!

[@cheendo7400]

Trosky is the best. For me is the cursing of the mate and the driver by passengers that makes me always want to ride trosky.

[@ExpatLifeGhana]

@@cheendo7400 - Crazy drivers and thanks for the comment 😊!

[@yaababrew6856]

My trotro experience was hilarious…I was out-sized & sandwiched like a child squeezed between 2 big parents 🤣

[@ExpatLifeGhana]

@@yaababrew6856 - Not for me and thanks for the comment 😊!

[@leslie8326]

I’m headed there in a week for the first time. So nervous and excited.

[@ExpatLifeGhana]

@@leslie8326 -Just be excited and thanks for the comment 😊!

[@amytremper5416]

Yeah there was a goat on my tro tro. So cute. I took a lot of them all the way to Aburi. Lol definitely a experience you never forget.

[@affulisreal275]

🤣🤣🇬🇭

[@MrOu83]

I would take the tro tro with some regularity back in 2020 until the pandemic started in March 2020. For the duration of that stay, I took a taxi or walked. During my fist visit in early 2022, I still didn’t take it, but did take it a few times during my second visit in 2022. I would only take tro tro for very short distances where there was fairly slow-speed traffic. I don’t trust them on fast-moving roads or highways because many of them are in utter disrepair. It is an adventure, though.

[@paintsildesmond8495]

Like trotro, taxi fares are also regulated. The only instance is when you have to negotiate is when you are chattering or hiring.

[@roderickmorrison]

The Expat Ghana BnB looks fantastic!

[@ypk7858]

Shared taxi fares are regulated. It is the chartered taxis that are generally up to the discretion of the taxi driver.

[@nanammm777]

Wow classic 👍🏾

[@howardcash8301]

Ayo and Tony! Great info! Yeah!

[@elisobais]

There are actually METRO MASS TRANSIT buses in Accra, Kumasi and other major cities in Ghana just as here in DC.

[@edwingross9778]

It's not Mass transit if you compare it to the western cities in the USA, Japan , China, England and so on that what mass transit looks like.

[@elisobais]

@@edwingross9778 I’m not comparing how it’s operated. I’m just letting folks know there are METRO MASS TRANSIT buses in Ghana and have been for many years.

[@sicklion2354]

Thanks for sharing

[@GeecheeWoman]

Tony & Ayo , I have experienced riding in many Tro - Tro's are the real- deal . Everyone should try it at your own risk . You will never forget it . If we can live in NY , LA , etc., you can survive the tro - tro .CHALE - OUT

[@nanakonadu-]

Thanks for saying that, it's not dangerous, it's fine

[@charleslampteynewlife-tv]

'Tro-tro' is Twi word for three pence- 'tro.' In Accra and other towns in the country (Koforidua), those transports were charging three pence, regardless of the miles or kilometers (distance) within the city, 'tro'- three pence, and since, the slang/'chargon' had stayed until now- tro-tro.

[@coahcudjoe7659]

If you feel adventurous........ you can try trotro. I love that statement from Tony.Try to research into the name trotro.

[@ypk7858]

A better developed public transportation system? What are you guys talking about? The Trotwood system is more efficient than the public bus systems in many cities in the US. There are so many places in the US that are not accessible by bus. But the trotro I accessible anywhere and everywhere in the city.

[@edwingross9778]

But this type of transportation is not Ideal for people coming from the west.

[@roderickmorrison]

Tony is really rockin' the shirt today!

[@PrinceAndSarahO]

Hello from Tennessee! Thanks for this video. Great info!

[@ExpatLifeGhana]

@@sarahbenefielddetomas7598 - Hey Y'all and thanks for the comment 😊!

[@capstone1073]

You always deliver great content.

[@ExpatLifeGhana]

Glad you think so!

[@selfella]

I couldn't believe how the tro tros have been upgraded! When I was growing up as a child in Accra in the late 60s and early 70s, the tro tros were not for the faint-hearted. The things didn't have roofs or sides!! You could literally just launch yourself in. And the seats were just planks of wood. Those were the days! But we also had a public bus service back then. Are they no longer in service? I'm coming back home for a bit in August and kind of wondering how I will get around? I fancy the idea of walking to get the lay of the land - but that's probably not a good idea. Might give you guys a call.

[@seanerby1133]

You guys are really good! Love the chemistry!❤ we are coming to the Bob in September!

[@ExpatLifeGhana]

@seanerby1133 - Love that! Thanks for the comment ❤️️🇬🇭❤️️.

[@roderickmorrison]

We were just in the village on the past weekend. I paid a moto driver an extra 10 GHS to let me drive. It was a blast!

[@williamgamelisenaya793]

Excuse me,tro tros have a set route eg.From Madina to Circle. Nuff respect Love your work ❤️ Watching from the land downunder Sydney NSW

[@jefftokplo]

Very curious to hear your ideas about a mass transit system in Accra. Thanks for the valuable information!

[@ExpatLifeGhana]

@@jefftokplo - Everyone keeps thinking they need light rail but what they really need are buses and getting rid of some of these trotros. Outside-of-the-box thinking is desperately needed here and thanks for the comment 😊!

[@DestinationSokeye]

I was on the back of a bike in Sierra Leone and then I used them to ride around in Nigeria. The three wheeler cabs (yellow/yellow) 10:01 are called Kay-Kay in Sierra Leone. They were just as reckless with those too.

[@krisnagirls1338]

Great

[@sillaroseedwa9933]

Luke and Leo have gotten so big fine young men

[@roderickmorrison]

Guys! I love the trotro! The price is fixed and cheap - no negotiation. Once you know the routes they are a fantastic option. And if you really want to live the "real Ghana life" you gotta ride the trotro. I know that the idea of traditional transit buses seems popular with expats but I'm not persuaded that they would work here. Trotro drivers can negotiate the skinniest passage. And - heck - if the road is blocked there is always the sidewalk!

[@GeecheeWoman]

Hello Brother Tony & Sister Ayo. How are you Syndi & the boys doing ? This is your Savannah , Georgia sister still in cold New York . CHALE - OUT ...

[@SilkeLike]

Hello and thank you for the video. I was in Accra in December and I hailed an Uber and either the driver got paid through the APP or he didn’t get paid because I gave him no cash. As for trotros, I have never ridden one in Accra; but first, I remember something similar to a trotro from the 1970s in The Bronx, NY and I have ridden something similar in South Africa. Those were not good experiences either.

[@directorytaliwag4100]

The children are too adorable.👏👏. Always love their spots.

[@ExpatLifeGhana]

You are so kind, thanks.

[@MrOu83]

Btw, I have seen overturned tro tros on the Accra-Cape Coast motorway when I was traveling to Cape Coast. That is why I don’t take them on trip involving high speed, highways. Talk about overspending.

[@robertaggrey2076]

Trotro is not as bad as you make it sound, yes it’s crowded, and no schedule but definitely has a set route.

[@IsaacRobinson-tb1mg]

Your vlogs are always very informative

[@ExpatLifeGhana]

Great comment - Thanks for adding to the conversation ❤️️💛💚!

[@dadoboye1536]

Ayo and Tony…Ghanaians should reach out to the diaspora office at the presidency so you both are given your citizenship. Great job promoting Ghana.

[@cheendo7400]

Ayo is half Ghanaian.

[@dadoboye1536]

@@cheendo7400 …and so?

[@mosisefu5888]

Ghana needs to regulate trotro make it a part of infrastructure

[@kennykenny7293]

Before l finish watching this video, my humble request is for Tony to ride a trotro from circle to kaneshie and share your experience. Am sure Tony is up to the challenge. Let’s do it bruh

[@ExpatLifeGhana]

@@kennykenny7293 - Don't hold your breath and thanks for the comment 😊!

[@thomasboateng5270]

Is like New York or the State there are no public bathrooms as well unless you're close to shopping mall

[@edwingross9778]

They just don't have enough paved roads to have a mass transit system unless they go with light rail cars, that would be a better option in how this Metro is built.

[@ExpatLifeGhana]

@@edwingross9778 - They do but without the understanding of how to implement the correct system and thanks for the comment 😊!

[@solomonamoako8956]

What about STC VIP and Metro Mass transport which are comparable to the public bus transport system in the Western west

[@ExpatLifeGhana]

@@solomonamoako8956 - No they are not comparable in any way other than being a bus and thanks for the comment 😊!

[@GeecheeWoman]

Bro Tiny , many times, it is hard to get a taxi at night . In Africa , do all of it at your own test . We been there , done there . CHALE - OUT ..

[@julesnartey-tokoli5045]

Y’all have no idea how fun riding a tro-tro is!😂😂😂😂

[@gandhibaffour405]

Hi my beautiful people, looking cute as always 💕 💖, I like the trotro....the way they drive,I just fun...but not motor...... .and make the police happy some tips....

[@sonofbosse]

cash is king

[@mymotherwasright3079]

Why doesn't Ghana invest monies for roads, highway, and transportation development? It's so obvious it's needed. What am I missing here?

[@eMAYz1ng]

No public buses? I though i saw a whole bus depot by Makola. Even seen buses around Accra, painted in the Ghanaian colors (not tro tro's). And all the buses i see going between Accra and Kumasi.. or are all of those private?

[@haroldsackeyfio2511]

did you know what TroTro means; sometime ago in ghana the cost of bus system is 3 pence, which is three as at that time. In the Ga language is Tro. so you can piece out the rest.

[@ExpatLifeGhana]

@@haroldsackeyfio2511 - Yeah we heard that and thanks for the comment 😊!

[@jpaultelchannel1702]

Please, where in the full "police video"? Looked for it but can't find it.

[@freeplax17]

Just curious can you ship your car over or should you buy a car in Ghana?

[@amytremper5416]

Whenever we were getting a taxi i was hiding im white after my husband finished negotiating the price i would appear. The driver took a double take feeling dupped i guess. Like where did she come from.

[@gbemimusic8328]

Abobaya

[@ebertbeeman4382]

Michelle Obama and his husband love your channel.

[@venita5234]

Do what the people do…ride a tro tro.

[@newsyoucanuse177]

“Out-of-the-box” thinking would be to build functional roads and infrastructure for safe mass transit and then, create a chance for living wages for the locals to they could afford to ride mass transit. Tro tros are affordable and convenient for the population in which they serve the most. Creating a “West” inspired mass transit system will once again “push out” the indigenous people from their own communities.

[@sonofbosse]

Uber will cancel on you if you have a foreign credit card. I saw the licence plate of the card a block away and he cancelled, then my Ghanaian girlfriend called and the car came

[@jackjohnson2101]

How can you provide a travel guide when you've never ridden a trotro and you only talk about Accra?

[@ExpatLifeGhana]

Hey @Jack... It's Ayo and I've been on plenty of trotros, so you can take it from me 😉.

[@sarahdompim2254]

Why don’t you start a transportation business in Ghana

[@sonofbosse]

They need money for petrol and they don't want to wait to get reimbursed

[@nanakonadu-]

I don't See any danger riding in a trotro

[@directorytaliwag4100]

Restroom, tro tro. 😂

[@roderickmorrison]

Good luck renting a car without a driver.

[@akira7389]

You are like the stranger who is invite to shelter in the house in an emergency who spends their time running down the facilities of the house. The mocking tone you adopt is not cool. You are adopting the same derogatory manner as other Europeans and Americans when they talk about Africa. I would urge you to remember that you are in Ghana as a guest and look at the welcome you have been extended. All you see in Ghana has been achieved in 65 years as an independent republic. Ghana will do things in its own way. It is what makes us unique and comfortable in our own skins. You chose Ghana but you are free to try the other 53 remaining African countries.

[@ExpatLifeGhana]

@@akira7389 - As invited guests, we would hope the invitation wasn't just so we would come and not speak on what affects us daily. It is crazy to think you believe Ghana has done what it has without dependence from the outside. If that were true there wouldn't be a George Bush motorway. As visitors, we have an eye Ghanaians don't and that should be appreciated not ostracized, and thanks for the comment 😊!

[@nanammm777]

Wow classic 👍🏾