The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) has declared that Toyota Voxy vehicles being used for commercial transport in Ghana are operating illegally, citing both regulatory breaches and safety concerns.
According to the Authority, the vehicles—many of which are right-hand-drive—do not meet the legal requirements for use on Ghana’s roads, particularly for commercial purposes.
This position was reinforced during the presentation of a report by a technical working group tasked with assessing the suitability of Toyota Voxy vehicles in the country.
The committee found that the vehicles were not designed for commercial use and that steering conversions carried out to adapt them for local conditions often fail to meet approved safety standards.
Executive Director of the NRSA, Abraham Amaliba, called on the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) to strictly enforce the ban on right-hand-drive vehicles.
The Authority also warned the public against patronising such vehicles, stressing that their continued use for passenger transport violates existing regulations.
“It is for intra-city drivers and not intercity drivers but we see the Voxy’s crisscrossing the lengthy and breadth of this country. They raise these vehicles and so they don’t even have the correct balance.
“We are also being told that the tyres are not right for the kind of work they use them for in this country,” he said.
The NRSA further indicated that it will engage key stakeholders in the coming days to finalise and implement the recommendations of the technical committee within the next two weeks.