A trotro (public minibus) in Kumasi has become a topic of conversation on social media, with a video of a CCTV camera installed in the vehicle going viral- a practice that is unheard of in this mode of transport that is common in Ghana.
The 13-second video posted by @sikaofficial1 on Twitter has received a lot of attention, and several Ghanaians have spoken up in surprise and humour.
We can pretty much notice that the camera is mounted above the front row, towards the bus entrance, and, bizarrely enough, towards the trotro mate (the passage of the driver).
No explanation was provided in the video, but the frame location of the camera made a lot of people assume that it was placed to spy on the mate and not passengers. This created a tsunami of jokes and funny reactions on the internet.
Other commenters made light of the fact that drivers are now putting up high-tech measures to ensure that mates do not abscond with the money. @kofi_paha tweeted, “Why did them turn the camera to the Mate side? 😂😂
Another user, @reaalpee, joked, ‘The driver no dey trust the mate be that ooh hmmm.’ 😂
Random finds in a Ghanaian public transport vehicle (trotro). pic.twitter.com/0q5Ch0lady
— SIKAOFFICIAL🦍 (@SIKAOFFICIAL1) June 18, 2025
READ ALSO: Farida Mahama’s Gifts of 66 Roses and Sweet Note for Dad on Father’s Day Will Melt You Away
A comment that was particularly memorable was by @FAgbodeka, who in a humorous remark stated what can already be found in a typical trotro: one lost slipper, a church flyer, a 2017 boiled egg seller’s basket, and someone forgot his destiny.
Trotros run in Ghana are synonymous with their plain, bare-bone style of operation, although in recent years some have been customized. Some drivers even go to lengths of installing flat-screen televisions and air conditioners, charging ports on phones, and now security cameras in their cabs.
Although some people were singing the idea, and in their opinion, this may help to enhance the safety of passengers and enhance service, others are having their doubts. One user joked, “It is not passengers camera oh… the mate is suffering!“
Who the driver is and why he has decided to install the CCTV are not clear, but the video has definitely drawn attention, causing a broader debate regarding trust and technology and innovation in local transportation.
If this is the new trend in the trotro scene in Ghana or it is a one-time innovation in creativity, one thing is definite: the people of Kumasi have a new reason to smile.
