The Technical Working Committee of the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) has declared the use of Toyota Voxy vehicles for commercial transport illegal, citing safety concerns related to their design and the widespread modifications carried out in Ghana.
The decision follows an investigation into the increasing use of the minivans as public transport, particularly after many were converted from right-hand drive to left-hand drive.
Presenting the committee’s final report in Accra on Wednesday, April 8, Chairman Godwin Kafui Ayetor described the development as a serious risk to passenger safety and called for immediate regulatory intervention.
He explained that the Toyota Voxy, originally designed for private family use, is not built to withstand the demands of commercial transport, particularly under Ghana’s road conditions.
“The manufacturer informed us that the Toyota Voxy is a minivan intended for young middle-class families, not for commercial passenger operations. It is not designed for high mileage and is best suited for use on well-paved roads,” he stated.
Godwin Kafui Ayetor further noted that the vehicle’s limitations become more evident when used for long-distance travel or on rough terrain, stressing that more suitable alternatives are available.
“Once off-road conditions come into play, the recommendation is to use vehicles such as the Toyota Hiace, which are specifically designed for commercial transport,” he added.
The committee found that many of the vehicles currently in use have undergone extensive structural modifications, including alterations to suspension systems and tyres—often carried out by unlicensed operators. According to the report, such changes compromise the integrity of the Toyota Voxy and significantly increase the risk of mechanical failure.
“As part of the conversion, the suspension is altered and the vehicle is raised. The tyres are also changed. However, the tyres originally fitted to the Toyota Voxy are passenger tyres and are not designed for heavy loads or high mileage,” he explained.
Beyond the technical issues, the committee identified what it described as a systemic breakdown in regulation, which has enabled the importation, modification, and commercial use of such vehicles without proper oversight.
“We observed a systemic regulatory failure that has led to the widespread use of these conversions. Many of these vehicles are unlawfully imported, improperly modified, and used for commercial transport, posing serious safety risks,” Godwin Kafui Ayetor stated.
He further warned that thousands of these vehicles may already be operating across the country without meeting the required safety standards.
“We have allowed thousands of unlawfully imported vehicles to enter the country, be modified without standards by uncertified practitioners, registered without proper testing and inspection, and in some cases, used commercially despite being registered as private vehicles,” he added.
In its final assessment, the committee concluded that the continued commercial use of the Toyota Voxy in its current state presents an unacceptable risk to public safety.
“In our final determination, the Technical Working Committee concludes that the Toyota Voxy, as currently configured through unregulated right-hand drive to left-hand drive conversions and used for commercial passenger transport beyond its design limits, poses a serious threat to road safety in Ghana.”
The committee has therefore recommended stricter enforcement of existing laws, including a ban on the importation of right-hand drive vehicles, tighter regulation of vehicle conversions, and an immediate halt to the registration of such vehicles for commercial use. It also called for intensified public education and broader regulatory reforms to curb the misuse of private vehicles for passenger transport.
The National Road Safety Authority is expected to review and act on these recommendations as part of wider efforts to improve road safety and reduce accidents linked to vehicle defects and non-compliance.
