The Director-General of the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), Abraham Amaliba, has provided clarity on the findings of a committee investigating safety concerns surrounding Toyota Voxy vehicles in Ghana.
Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem morning show, he stressed that no implantation has been taken yet, and that the committee’s recommendations are currently public for consideration.
“Ghanaians wrote to us, both through emails and in person, raising concerns that the Voxy is involved in many accidents, and that we should look into it. Management agreed, but we cannot simply act based on public opinion alone,” Mr. Amaliba explained.
To ensure a thorough review, NRSA formed a 12-member technical committee that included engineering lecturers, representatives from Toyota Ghana, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), Ghana Standards Authority, logistics and transport companies, and commercial vehicle operators. The committee recently submitted its report.
“The proposals in the report are now public. As NRSA, we have not yet started implementation,” he said.
Among the findings, the committee disclosed that the Toyota Voxy was designed primarily for family use within cities and towns.
Alterations commonly made to the vehicles in Ghana such as raising the suspension and converting from right-hand drive to left-hand drive affect the vehicle’s balance and compromise safety.
Mr. Amaliba also noted legal concerns, saying, “Under the Customs Act, it is unlawful to import right-hand-drive vehicles into the country, and conversion from right to left is also prohibited. So, aside from road safety issues, these vehicles also breach the law in the way they are brought into Ghana.”
The statement comes after NRSA declared the use of Toyota Voxy vehicles for commercial transport illegal due to regulatory and safety concerns. Many of these vehicles are right-hand drive and do not comply with Ghana’s road regulations, with steering conversions that fail to meet approved safety standards.
They were not originally designed for commercial transport.
Despite this, some transport operators argue that the directive shows a disconnect between regulators and industry realities, and have vowed to defend their members’ interests.
Mr. Amaliba concluded, “Our role is to ensure road safety for all Ghanaians. The committee’s report is a guide, and we will engage all stakeholders before any final decision is made.”
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