There is more than one way to get around the streets of Accra. We are realizing that the automobile may not be the quickest method of travel between points A and B -- at least not on busy weekdays. The Ghanaians use creative ways to get themselves and their cargo to a desired destination.
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| Eat on the go! | Coconuts on the go! |
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| Bikes are good, but motorbikes rule. They zip in and out of moving vehicles, ignore traffic lights if the road is clear, and basically drive wherever they have a clear passageway. | Taxis are older model cars with yellow or orange hips and shoulders. They are inexpensive to ride and a popular mode of transportation. Taxi drivers LOVE to honk their horns! |
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| Tro-tros are privately owned. They have no set schedule but have set routes that travel along all major thoroughfares. Be prepared to sit close to other passengers -- it's a squish!!! | A vocal young man, or "mate," in the front seat calls out and uses hand signals to inform you where they are going. Well- dressed commuters and school kids alike ride the tro-tros. |
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| Long-distance tro-tros mean you may be sharing the ride with lots of goods. It only takes a few Cedis to jump on board. | There's no limit on what you can pack and carry in your vehicle. We try to stay in the other lane, when possible. |
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| The more, the merrier. | No room in the cab. |
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| The gutters on the side of many roads are one of the reasons I don't drive. Some of them look like the Grand Canyon! | When Elder Stoker makes a right turn, I hold my breath and close my eyes. You could disappear in one of these gutters. |
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| Accra has very few signs with street names. If you need directions, it goes something like this: "Go to the ocean and turn right, then go to the statue and take the fourth exit on the roundabout." Or: "Go past the grove of trees and take the first Y-exit on the left; look for a bank, but if you pass another bank, you've gone too far. The church is across the street from a florist shop." We've learned to leave in plenty of time when we don't know where we are going. The street signs you see above are placed right before you enter a roundabout. If you don't catch where to go the first time, drive clear around and try again. But whatever you do, don't slow down, because there are cars honking behind you. |
