NRSA Director-General Abraham Amaliba has criticised the Customs Division for failing to enforce laws prohibiting the importation of right-hand drive vehicles, as authorities intensify action against converted cars on Ghana’s roads.
Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Mr. Amaliba expressed frustration over what he described as weak enforcement, despite clear legal provisions.
“Customs is not helping us, and I don’t understand why. The law is clear, yet it is not being enforced,” he said.
He referred to the Customs Act, emphasizing that it explicitly bars the importation and conversion of right-hand drive vehicles.
“The law, Act 891 (51), is explicit that you cannot import right-hand drive vehicles into the country or convert them. If the cars were not allowed into the country, we wouldn’t be having this conversation,” he stressed.
His comments follow a technical committee report that has prompted plans to restrict the use of Toyota Voxy vehicles for long-distance commercial travel due to safety concerns.
Mr. Amaliba revealed that many of these vehicles are imported as right-hand drive and later converted locally, a practice he described as illegal.
“They change it from right-hand to left-hand. The garages that are doing this, we will close them down. Those operating here are engaged in illegality,” he warned.
He noted that some conversions occur abroad before shipment but maintained that local operators would not be spared.
“I hear some do it in Dubai before importation, but for the garages operating in Ghana, we will shut them down. They are like prostitutes in the garage business,” he added.
To tighten enforcement, the NRSA plans to formally engage key institutions, including the Customs Division, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), Ghana Standards Authority, the Police Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD), transport unions such as the Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council, and garage operators.
“We will write officially and attach the report to all relevant bodies—Customs, DVLA, Standards Authority, Police MTTD—and ensure coordinated action,” he said.
As part of interim measures, Mr. Amaliba noted that vehicles already in the country, particularly Toyota Voxy models, will be limited to short-distance operations within cities.
He acknowledged that the issue is not limited to the Voxy, citing the Toyota Matrix as another vehicle that has undergone similar conversions but is largely used for ride-hailing services.
“It is not only Toyota Voxy. Even Toyota Matrix has been converted, but you don’t hear of many accidents because they are used as Ubers for intra-city transport. So we are saying Voxy drivers can do the same,” he added.
The NRSA maintains that these measures are necessary to enhance road safety, insisting that stricter enforcement—especially at the ports—will be key to preventing further risks.
“I believe it all depends on the heads of the institutions. People were there before me, but nothing was done,” Mr. Amaliba remarked, signalling a renewed push to ensure compliance.
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