Accra, April 8, – The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) has cautioned that Toyota Voxy vehicles are not suitable for long-distance or commercial passenger transport, warning that their increasing use on inter-city routes poses serious safety risks.
The Director-General of the Authority, Mr Abraham Amaliba, said the vehicles were originally designed for intra-city use and not for high-mileage commercial operations.
He explained that the Toyota Voxy was not manufactured in left-hand drive configuration, adding that all such units operating in Ghana were converted from right-hand drive models, raising further safety concerns.
“At the very least, if there is one message the public should take away, it is that Toyota Voxy vehicles are not meant for long-distance travel,” he said at the presentation of a technical committee report in Accra.
The 14-member committee, chaired by Dr Godwin Kafui Ayetor, was tasked to assess the engineering integrity and safety of the vehicle’s use in commercial transport following rising crash incidents involving the model.
Dr Ayetor noted that the Voxy was originally built as a family minivan for urban Japanese roads and was not designed for commercial passenger services or heavy-duty use.
He added that most conversions in Ghana were carried out by unregulated artisans, affecting suspension systems and structural stability, which compromised road safety.
The committee also found that more than 7,000 of such vehicles had been registered without clear import approval compliance under existing customs regulations.
It further cited lapses by key regulatory institutions including Customs, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), and the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), particularly in inspection and enforcement processes.
The Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service said it would collaborate with the NRSA to enforce restrictions on the use of the vehicles for intra-city transport only.
The NRSA indicated that implementation of the committee’s recommendations would begin immediately as part of efforts to reduce road crashes and improve passenger safety nationwide.
GHBUSS
8 April 2026
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