There are some brand names too that have meaning unique only to Ghana. Like Space bus. Google that or ask any non-Ghanaian or even a Ghanaian who is not familiar with Accra or specifically the Circle-Kaneshie-Odorkor-Mallam route and you get the response of a vehicle that is out of this world. Literally. But on this route, it is the name of a famous mode of transport that has been with us for years. The ‘Space bus’ is a bus which is used as a trotro on this route. I have a strong feeling that it was built by the Willowbrook company which had an assembling plant at Dzorwulu, close to where the World Miracle Church has its headquarters now. I grew up in Kotobabi and used to pass in front of that factory to fetch water. Amazingly, this same Circle-Mallam route (extending to Accra) was known the ‘King of Kings’ buses, featuring the double-decker ‘Auntie Dede’ buses. Ah, how it is that our Sikaman past was so glorious! There aren’t new Space buses being made anymore, so most of those in service are as old as this writer. Their steering is so loose that it is not unusual to see the driver swing the wheel and let it go until it hits the other end in its circular motion. Adwoa Gyamera captured it well when she indicated that ‘the steering wheel of the space bus can be turned 360 degrees and yet the bus itself would move 5 degrees!’ The sitting arrangements are such that there are two columns of seats arranged in a transverse format in rows along the bus, with an aisle running in between the column, up to the ‘last seat’ which occupied the full width of the bus. The aisle serves two purposes: for easy movement and also as addition standing space for passengers when the seats are fully occupied. A third benefit is that at the beginning of this aisle, just behind the massive gearbox which was also exuded a steady stream of heat, was ample space which was useful for bus preachers and mobile ‘doctors’ aka herbalists. - Excerpt from I Speak of Ghana
Posted on: Fri, 16 Jan 2015 10:33:08 +0000
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