Ghana Trotro

Our readers may recall our post on June 11, 2018 titled Varying increment of trotro fares in which story we mentioned that there appears to be a variation in the trotro charges in the city, our sampling shows the rate of increase is greater than the publicly announced 10%. Nkrumah Circle to Accra was GHS 140, is now GHS 160 Nkrumah Circle to Palm Wine at Labadi was GHS 180, is now GHS 2 Accra to Kaneshie was GHS 140, is now GHS 160. These trotro fares are charged at all operator terminals; suggesting that the GPRTU, Coop and GRTCC have agreed to charge above the publicized 10%.

Kawkudi traffic light approaching from 37. This busy intersection serves trotro buses moving from  Tema Station and 37 to Nima, Mamobi, New Town, Dzorwulu and La Paz.  It is the quickest way to reach northern Accra from the south east.

Trotro drivers in Accra oppose the newly announced digital drivers license which is set to go operational on 7th November.  The card is supposed to integrate with a new national ID system and provide seamless identification for drivers and vehicle ownership documentation. The trotro drivers say they dislike the new system for several reasons. One, its very expensive and they have to repay for a license as the old one invalidates at the inception of the digital card.  Two, they claim the new card is one of the routine ways government inconveniences drivers with novelty just to make money from them and later claim that the very system they claim to be advanced would be replaced soon on grounds of  obsolesce. Three, a driver who is licensed to drive an automatic vehicle cannot switch to ma...

The Labadi Palmwine trotro route in Accra. This photo was taken close to the Shell trotro bus stop towards 37.  The traffic to the right is flowing towards Trade Fair and Labadi Wireless.

The main photo shows the Palm Wine intersection that leads to the Wireless trotro route. In the inset, the Labadi 37 trotro route as seen from the Trade Fair, Accra, Ghana. This trotro route leads up to the 37 Military hospital, Kanda and onwards to Dzorwulu, New Town or Lapaz.  Stops along the way include Palm Wine, Kpogas, Congo Junction and Airport.

This trotro route travels along the Palmwine 37 road through Burma Camp. The most notable stops on the way are Congo junction near the Tunnel and the Accra Burma Camp. Trotro buses from Labadi, Teshie, Nungua and Bush Road will go along this route to Lapaz, Legon, 37, Kanda or Dzorwulu. Its a sparse traffic road with three lanes.

Southern view of a trotro passing under the Kwame Nkrumah Circle Interchange. This picture is taken from a trotro that is west bound, going to Kaneshie. The high rise in the right background is the GCB Tower which houses offices. The new interchange provides quick access for trotro buses who no longer have to meander the previously congested roundabout. With clover leaf passages and widened lanes, trotro buses going to Lapaz and Accra do not make any stop below. When completed, vehicles from Osu and Kaneshie would no longer need to circle the roundabout - they can drive straight over the top at high speed.

The Pyramid House, as seen in this photo, lies to the left of the Kanda Circle trotro route. It houses many offices and tech shops.  The building is located at the southern end of Asylum Down, Accra, just across the Nima junction. This photo was taken from a trotro bus, parked at the bust stop.

The Accra Independence Square trotro route flows from the High Street through the Stadium to Tema. The route passes through the Ministries, the Banks and the Osu Community.  The road is sparse in the mornings an evenings but dense in the afternoons because many commuters travel that way to transect businesses in the main district.

A section of the road on the Palm Wine Wireless 37 trotro route. Going on straight leads to 37 or Madina, and left turn goes to Wireless and Labone. Few of the trotro buses that ply this route go to Accra West communities like Circle or Kanehsie. Most go East to Nungua and Tema.

In this picture,  a Ghana trotro Mercedes Sprinter bus slows down to a stop at the T Junction trotro stop in front of the La Palm Royal beach hotel in Accra. This bus is approaching from Osu and east bound to communities like Tema, Nungua and Teshie. It will make about 11 stops but it makes a return journey. In Ghana, trotro buses have fixed terminals but loose stops. Any point along the road, as far as its spacious and safe to alight, can be designated as a stop. Its cultural for trotro drivers to consider passenger convenience especially those with luggage, merchandise and load.

The La Palm wine 37 Ghana trotro route lies across the eastern section of the city. In this picture, the route traverses the La Palm Beach Resort and makes headway towards the 37 Military hospital where one can find a large trotro station that plies the west and eastern sections of the city. This shot shows the intersection for the road leading from Labone, towards Water Works and making a turn to either 37 or Palm Wine. In the background is a Billboard announcing the candidatureship of the President of Ghana, in the December 7, 2016 elections that will be held in Ghana. Partially eclipsed to the right is a suite of shops. The La Ghana trotro route is the neatest in Accra. Its about 8.5 kilometers in length, well lit and well drained. It’s densely populated along the ends but sparse ...