Learn how to add stations, routes, and fares to trotromap — Ghana's community transit map.
trotromap is a community-built map of Ghana's public transit. Every station, route, and fare you see on the map was added by someone just like you — someone who knew their local area and wanted to help others get around.
Public transit in Ghana is informal — there's no central database of trotro stops or routes. Every station you add helps someone find their way. Every fare you record helps someone budget their trip. You're building the map that your community needs.
This walkthrough takes about 5 minutes. You can always come back to any step. When you're ready to contribute for real, head over to the Contribute page.
trotromap needs several kinds of data to work well. Here's a breakdown of what you can contribute.
A station is any place where passengers board or alight from a trotro or shared taxi — the main terminal where vehicles queue up, a roadside stop under a tree, a lorry park, or an informal gathering point at a junction.
What you need: Station name, GPS coordinates (or pick on map), and its destinations.
Example: "Madina Main Station", "Circle VIP", "Adenta Barrier"
Tip: A "destination" from a station is where people can board a trotro to head to. One station can have many destinations.
A route is the path a trotro or shared taxi takes from its starting station to its destination. Routes include the road path and all the intermediate stops along the way.
What you need: Route name, GPS track (recorded or drawn on map), stops along the way, and fare info.
Example: "Madina → Circle", "Tema Station → Kasoa"
Tip: You can record a route by taking a trotro ride with our GPS recorder, or draw the path manually on the map.
Fares tell riders how much a trip costs. Destinations tell riders where they can go from a given station and what it costs to get there.
What you need: The destination name, GPS location, and the fare between the station and destination.
Example: From "Madina Main Station" → "Accra Circle", fare: GH₵ 5.00
Tip: You can add destinations when submitting a station contribution. Each destination can have its own GPS coordinates and fare.
A little preparation goes a long way. Here's what you need before you submit data.
Only contribute data for places you've actually been to. Local knowledge is more valuable than guessing.
For route contributions, you'll record your journey. Make sure location services are on and accurate.
If you're contributing fare information, confirm the current price by asking the driver or your mate. Fares can change.
Jot down station names, nearby landmarks, and any helpful info while you're there — don't rely on memory alone.
All contributions are submitted through the Contribute page. You can contribute as a logged-in user (your name will appear on the leaderboard) or anonymously.
Stations are the backbone of trotromap. Here's how to add one that's accurate and useful.
Use the map picker on the Contribute page to drop a pin at the exact location of the station. Zoom in as much as possible for precision. You can search for nearby landmarks or use your current GPS location.
Pro tip: Stand at the actual station entrance or the point where trotros park. The more accurate the GPS pin, the more useful it is for navigation.
Use the name that locals actually use. Avoid abbreviations unless they're widely recognised. Include a landmark or area name if it helps identify the location.
Madina Main Station
madin stn
Circle - Odawna Trotro Stop
circle
trotromap supports two station types:
Adding destinations tells riders what routes are available from this station and how much they cost. Each destination needs:
Only add destinations you're sure about. It's better to add one accurate destination than several guessed ones.
Before adding a new station, search the existing list on the Contribute page. If the station is already there, you can still help — add destinations or fares that are missing. Duplicate stations create confusion and need to be cleaned up by moderators.
Routes are the paths that trotros and shared taxis travel. A good route contribution includes the road path, stops, and fare information.
Use the format "Start → Destination". Be specific enough that riders can recognise the route.
Madina → Circle
Kasoa → Tema Station (via Spintex)
You have two options for recording a route path:
Take the trotro ride with our GPS tracker active. The app records your path automatically using your phone's GPS. This gives the most accurate road path.
Draw the route by clicking along the roads on the map. The path automatically snaps to the nearest road. Great for routes you know but haven't recorded.
Stops are intermediate stations or boarding points along the route. Adding stops helps the navigation system plan multi-segment journeys.
For each stop you'll need:
Tip: Not every junction needs to be a stop. Focus on major boarding points that many passengers use — markets, junctions, and landmarks.
Fare information makes trotromap truly useful. You can provide:
Always confirm fares before submitting — ask the driver or your mate. Trotro fares can change due to fuel prices and policy and vary across regions.
High-quality data makes trotromap reliable. Follow these guidelines to make sure your contributions are helpful and accurate.
| Do | Don't | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Madina Main Station | madina | Too vague — which part of Madina? |
| Tema Station (Accra) | Tema Station | Ambiguous — is it in Tema or Accra? |
| Circle → Madina (via Legon) | Circle to Madina | Missing route variant info (there may be multiple paths) |
| Kasoa New Market Junction | Kasoa N.M.J. | Abbreviations confuse search results |
If possible, ask locals or check multiple sources. A second opinion never hurts.
If a station has moved or fares have changed, submit a new contribution. Better to have current data than stale data.
Duplicate entries slow down the review process. Check if the data already exists before contributing.
Only contribute public transit stops. Private residences, businesses (unless they're known transit points), and sensitive locations should not be added.