Tricycles, commonly known as Pragyal, “yellow yellow” or Mahama Cambo, have become the primary means of transporting goods in Ghana’s informal cross-border trade, handling billions of cedis worth of exports and imports during the first three quarters of 2025, according to the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS).
The latest Informal Cross-Border Trade (ICBT) Survey found that tricycles, rather than trucks or other larger vehicles, were the most commonly used mode of transport for goods moving between Ghana and its neighbouring countries.
According to the report, tricycles accounted for an average of GH¢2 billion worth of exports and GH¢1.7 billion worth of imports across the three quarters under review.
The findings highlight the significant role the three-wheeled vehicles play in facilitating trade at Ghana’s borders, particularly among small-scale traders transporting goods through informal channels.
The survey, which covered trade between Ghana and Togo, Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire, estimated that informal cross-border trade reached GH¢31 billion between January and September 2025, representing 6% of Ghana’s total trade during the period.
The exercise was conducted across 206 active border points in 10 regions using direct observation and interviews with traders to capture transactions that are not recorded through official customs processes.
