The tro-tro — a symbol of everyday life in Ghana — is more than just a mode of transportation. For millions of Ghanaians, it’s a part of their daily rhythm: affordable, chaotic, loud, and deeply cultural. But have you ever wondered how it got its name?
Professor Kofi Agyekum, affectionately known as Opanyin Agyekum, a renowned linguist at the University of Ghana and a regular voice on Akan language matters, has explained the origin of the term “tro-tro” — and it goes far beyond slang.
According to Opanyin Agyekum, the name “tro-tro” is rooted in colonial-era currency and the Ga language. The word “tro” in Ga means “threepence” — a British colonial coin that was widely used before Ghana’s independence in 1957.
During that time, commercial minibuses began transporting people within Accra and other towns, and the fare for a short trip was three pence. Riders would often say they were going to “take the tro,” referencing the cost. Over time, as the vehicles became more popular and the fare system remained relatively fixed, the name evolved to tro-tro, repeating the word in line with a common Ghanaian linguistic style used for emphasis or plurality.
So, in simple terms, “tro-tro” came to mean “threepence-threepence” — or a vehicle that charged a standard low fare, often threepence, for transport.
Beyond the name, the tro-tro system itself has grown into an informal yet vital part of Ghana’s transportation network. These privately owned minibuses operate on set routes, picking up and dropping off passengers with minimal regulation but maximum accessibility. The system is often chaotic but deeply efficient, moving the majority of Ghana’s working-class population every day.
Today, the fare has changed, the currency has changed — but the name tro-tro has stuck. It has become part of Ghanaian identity, language, and urban life. And thanks to cultural custodians like Opanyin Agyekum, the linguistic and historical roots of such everyday terms are being preserved and explained for future generations.
Source: http://thepressradio.com
