During my first weekend in Ghana, I enjoyed an excursion from the airfield with some of the other MoM staff and volunteers. We journeyed by tro tro, a 15-passenger van used for public transportation, across eastern Ghana to the village of Wli. It was a great opportunity to see more of the Ghanaian landscape and interact with a wide variety of people. However, I am grateful that I do not have to rely on tro tros for all my travels! The vehicles are significantly smaller than their American counterparts and lacking key safety features like seatbelts. Tro-tro drivers are constantly dodging potholes, pedestrians, stray animals, and other obstacles at high speeds. Collisions are frequent occcurences with devastating consequences for many Ghanaian families. I understand now why MoM uses planes for more safe and efficient access to rural communities. Strategies for increasing safety in and around motor vehicles will definitely be an important topic for future ETCHE drops!
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