Transportation.

The way public transportation works in Ghana represents pretty much how the country works as a whole. It´s hard to tell how long it will take you to get to one place—one day it may be 15 minutes, other days it might take an hour. Traffic is slow and rowdy, but at the end of the day, you get wherever you need to get.
The most common form of public transportation within the city is the Tro-Tro, a small bus/van, similar to a “buseta” back home. Tro-Tros come in different sizes and different colors, but they all have one thing in common, they are ALWAYS packed. You will usually find a seat in the Tro.Tro, but rest assure that it was thanks to a kind woman who instead of seating comfortably, she seats with two of her children in her lap. This woman, however, manages to smile and will engage with you in a conversation. When the Tro-Tro stops, everyone from the front rows gets off to let the passengers in the back step outside. It´s the Ghanaian way—everyone helps everyone. Everyone, happily, helps everyone.
Before hoping into a Tro-Tro, you should make sure it´s going in the direction you need, because the bus/van does not have any sign that indicates where it´s going and you might end up in the wrong place. Instead of having a sign, boys who sit in the front seat swing their arms out the window making different shapes which, apparently, let you know where the bus is heading. For example, if they´re motioning a circle you know they are going to the Kwame Nkrumah circle, so if you are going anywhere in between where you are and the circle you hop on that one. If the guy has his arms raised and is shaking his hand back and forth in a straight line, you know he´s going to one neighborhood, if he´s simply waving his hand, the Tro-Tro is going somewhere else. It´s a simple system, all the locals understand it and they like it. Ghanaian life is simple, it does not have too many complications and people love it. I love it.
Tro-Tro´s are also used to travel between cities. Everyone tries to get a seat by the window because it tends to get hot and a little breeze is always good. There are no bus schedules and the buses only leave once every seat is full. This can take hours, so patience is a requirement when travelling in Ghana.
Besides Tro-Tro´s, cabs are also commonly used. This is when the art of bargaining really comes in handy. If a cab driver asks you for 5 cedis, you must go in for 2 cedis; you will probably get your ride for 3 cedis. If the first cab driver didn´t lower his price, you have to be patient; chances are you will get a better deal with the next. The cab situation is like playing a game, one in which the tourist always goes in losing. But if you play well and pretend like you know what you are talking about when you ask for a better price, you might just get lucky.