A typical tro-tro station in Ghana

In Ghana, tro-tros are the lifeline of daily transport, privately-owned minibuses that carry millions of commuters every day along fixed routes, sometimes moving only when packed to capacity.

'Tro tro' is integral to Ghana's transportation ecosystem, with most commuters relying on them for work and shopping purposes.

While large buses also provide public transport in Accra, 'tro tro' remains the preferred choice across different regions.

However, while these colourful mini buses have become a symbol of Ghanaian city life, few people know how the name 'tro-tro' name actually came about.

As such, while speaking on Peace FM, Professor Kofi Agyekum, popularly known as Opanyin Agyekum, explained the surprising origin of the term.

According to him, the name goes all the way back to Ghana’s colonial days when the British currency system shaped how people paid for transport.

“When we used to spend pounds, 20 shillings meant 1 pound. We had 'kapre,' which is equivalent to today’s pesewa. We had farthing, which was a quarter of the pesewa, so the simpoa (pence) became what the Accra people called tro.

"So, when we were kids, our mothers used to call the cars we call ‘trotro,’ now ‘simpoa simpoa.’ Because the money they accepted was the 'tro,' which is three pence,” he explained.

Back then, passengers paid three pence, the “tro,” for each trip.

The name stuck, and decades later, the word 'tro-tro' still rolls off the tongues of commuters every day as they squeeze into these minibuses to get to work, school, or the market.

Today, each 'tro-tro' is typically run by a driver and a conductor known as the 'mate,' who collects fares and calls out stops.

They remain an essential part of Ghana’s transport network.

FKA/AE

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