The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) has urged passengers to avoid using Toyota Voxy vehicles for long-distance travel.
The Authority explained that Voxy cars were designed for short, intra-city trips and are not meant for long inter-city commercial purposes.
According to a report by the Authority’s Technical Working Group on the suitability of Toyota Voxy vehicles for long-distance travel, the Japan-made car is not manufactured for the Ghanaian market or for left-hand drive conversions.
Presenting the report to the Director-General of the Authority, Abraham Amaliba, in Accra yesterday, the Chairman of the Working Group, Dr Godwin Kafui Kwesi Ayetor, said the modifications required to convert the car from its original right-hand drive configuration are substantial and could compromise its structural integrity.
The report stated that the manufacturer, Toyota Tsusho Corporation, confirmed the Voxy is exclusively made for the Japanese domestic market as a minivan for young, middle-class families.
The Committee noted that hundreds of mechanical shops across the country carry out left-hand drive conversions, often without following proper standards.
It explained that “a complete conversion typically requires modification of the steering rack, dashboard, wiring harness, air conditioning system, braking system, windshield wipers, switches, and levellers. However, due to cost constraints, some conversions remain incomplete when importers are unable or unwilling to purchase all necessary parts. This results in visibly unfinished vehicles characterised by mismatched levellers, improperly fitted dashboards, and misaligned mirrors.”
The Committee therefore recommended ceasing the importation of Voxy and all other right-hand drive vehicles.
It also called for collaboration between the DVLA and the MTTD of the Ghana Police Service to launch joint enforcement operations to identify and sanction Voxy and similar vehicles registered for private use but employed for commercial purposes.
Receiving the report, Mr Amaliba said the NRSA would collaborate with all stakeholders to ensure Voxy vehicles are no longer imported and those already in the system are not used for long-haul transportation.
“We’ll start acting now because lives are at stake. We’ll meet immediately to consider how to implement this report. Clearly, there are a myriad of problems with the Voxy vehicle,” he said.
Mr Amaliba added that, although the Customs Division should have enforced Section 58 of its Act which prohibits the importation of right-hand drive vehicles, it is better to act now than never.
“We won’t shelf this report. The findings will be adhered to, and we will enforce them,” he assured.
The MTTD, DVLA, and Ghana Standards Authority have all pledged their commitment to ensuring the report’s implementation.
BY JULIUS YAO PETETSI
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