Tro-tro's :
A trotro is a basically a bus. They are typically smallish mini van size to UPS Truck size. They are almost all old, broken down and dirty. The seats span the width of the trotro. If you are facing forward there is a large seat on your left side that spans all but a thin isle on the far right. Attached to the right of this seat is a fold down seat that fills the isle. As a row fills the isle seat is folded down and then the next row is filled. In this way the entire trotro is filled, no space is wasted. There is also space in the front next to the driver. This is the "Big Man's" seat which is often offered to the Obroni. Each trotro has a driver and a mate. The the mate yells out the window where the trotro is headed and lets passengers in. The mate also collects the money from passengers. The mate also has the worst seat in the trotro, facing the back behind the passengers seat (It's actually more of a space with possibly a ledge). Ghanaians beat the hell out of their vehicles and trotro's are no exceptions. Bearing down a potholed road a breakneck pace getting the hell beat out of you is not that uncommon an experience. All the while the Ghanaian next to you is sleeping with his head propped up against the seat in front of you! Most all the trotro's have diesel engines and are down trodden and maintained at the edge of their lifespans. This a function of the Ghanaian culture and the reality of the economic situation in this developing country. Riding in a trotro is an essential Ghana experience.