General Information

SECURITY

Avoid empty trotros at night especially between 2am and 4am. They may be a gang, prowling for victims.

During rush hours, watch your pocket and purse. Thieves may mingle with the passengers and steal in the melee.

If someone suddenly decides to drop off at a point without warning, look out for your phone. He may be dropping off with it.

Never make a call when you have a window seat. Someone may snatch it.

Watch the next person on the row. They may be eyeing your phone. Don’t get distracted. If someone is needlessly engaging you, his accomplice may be picking your phone and alighting on the way before you find out.

If you lose something on board, tell the driver or mate. They will stop and search the bus. Please be sure its really lost.

Night drivers may be unlicensed avoiding police, and may drive badly.

Night and Sunday vehicles may be faulty and unroadworthy

CONDUCTOR MISCONDUCT

Conductors can be rude, insolent and disrespectful  If you are used to refined behavior and courtesies avoid trotros or shout back with same naughtiness.

Never board a bus reeking of alcohol. You will be turned out.

CULTURE

On Sundays and Fridays be mindful about your onboard conversations about vulgar topics  especially morning, Nothing overtly secular. During morning transit, never talk about death, misfortune or disaster. Ghanaians are mostly superstitious and believe the day must start with positive news.

Nurses, nursing/expectant mothers, members of the security forces, Alhajis [Mecca Pilgrim] and Rastamen are accorded priorities during the bus service. Its a trotro convention perhaps arising out of perceived vulnerability, value and mysteriousness of this group of travelers.

PASSENGER DISCOMFORT

If you need to refer to  a map or other reference for direction, master the document on the ground  before boarding. You may not have enough space to hold your sheet out whilst on board.

Watch out for exposed metal that can tear your dress or injure you. Watch passengers with knapsacks and luggage with objects protruding. Someone may be carrying a saw or sharp metal. Stay clear and safe.

WEATHER

Be mindful about the rainy season from April to July because most trotro stops and stations do not have shelters. The bus itself may leak or have seeping windows.

PRONUNCIATION
The letters “R” and “L” are mostly silent in Ghana. Most Accra trotro operators speak Twi, a local dialect where “l” and “r” may sound interchanged. It is common to find ball joint mentioned as “boo gweint” or fault pronounced as “fought”. Always listen well to tell what the speaker intends to say.