The Director-General of the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), Abraham Amaliba, has clarified that no formal ban has been imposed on the commercial use of Toyota Voxy vehicles, despite widespread reports suggesting otherwise.
In an interview, Mr Amaliba said a presentation made to the authority on Wednesday did not constitute a directive and should not be interpreted as an official policy decision.
“No ban has come. Yesterday was just a presentation of reports. One report presented to me does not issue it to the public. How can we issue it to them?” he said on JoyNews.
His comments follow media reports on April 8, 2026, which claimed the NRSA had outlawed the use of Toyota Voxy vehicles for commercial operations and was preparing to enforce the decision within two weeks.
Committee Findings and Proposals
A 12-member Technical Working Committee, chaired by Godwin Kafui Ayetor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, presented its final report to the NRSA on April 8.
The committee, which included representatives from Toyota Ghana, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority, the Ghana Standards Authority and industry players, was set up following concerns over the frequency of road crashes involving the vehicle.
Among its key recommendations were strict enforcement of the ban on importing right-hand drive vehicles under Section 58 of the Customs Act, action against the use of private number plates for commercial operations, limiting Voxy vehicles to intra-city transport and issuing public safety advisories.
The committee also called for an end to the conversion of vehicles from right-hand drive to left-hand drive, citing safety concerns.
Consultations Ongoing
Mr Amaliba said that although he agreed with the committee’s findings, broader consultations were still required before any directive could be issued.
“I have no hesitation to say that I agree with what the committee has said,” he said.
He noted that some key institutions, including the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, the Ghana Standards Authority and the Police Motor Traffic and Transport Department, were not fully engaged during the committee’s work.
“They have not consulted Customs. They have not consulted Standards Authority. They have not consulted the MTTD,” he said.
He indicated that the report would be forwarded to these institutions for their input and enforcement within their respective mandates.
Industry Pushback
Transport operators have already pushed back against the proposals. In a statement issued on April 8, the National Chairman of the Commercial Transport Operators of Ghana, Asonaba Nana Wiredu, described the recommendations as “a lazy and ill-conceived approach” that could impose hardship on operators.
The group instead called for improved driver training, enhanced safety education and better road infrastructure.
Mr Amaliba, however, dismissed the concerns, insisting they misrepresented the committee’s work.
“Their letter is out of place. It is immaterial. It is irrelevant. It does not speak to what we did yesterday. There is no complete ban,” he said.
Enforcement Measures Under Consideration
Mr Amaliba said the authority would intensify enforcement of existing laws, particularly those governing the importation of right-hand drive vehicles.
Section 58 of the Customs Act, 2015 (Act 891), prohibits the importation of such vehicles without ministerial approval, and allows for their seizure and forfeiture.
The committee found no evidence of approval for more than 7,000 Toyota Voxy vehicles currently registered in Ghana.
While existing vehicles may continue to operate, the recommendation is to restrict them to intra-city transport.
“Those that are already there, limit them to intra-city transport. That is why we are recommending Voxy to be intra-city,” Mr Amaliba said.
He added that enforcement would involve the deployment of the Motor Traffic and Transport Department on inter-city routes, with sanctions expected for non-compliance.
On vehicle conversion, Mr Amaliba warned that garages engaged in converting right-hand drive vehicles would face closure, describing the practice as unlawful.
“It is against the law. So we are going to close down those garages. And if people are still engaging in that, we will arrest them,” he said.
Source: Graphic
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