Simbiat Wiredu, the Head of Corporate Affairs at the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), has clarified that the authority has not banned the use of the Toyota Voxy, suggesting that recent media reports have misrepresented the facts.
Speaking in an interview on Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, she explained that the NRSA engaged the media following the presentation of a report and recommendations by a technical working committee.
This committee was specifically tasked with investigating the use of Toyota Voxy vehicles for commercial transport services in the wake of a rise in road crashes across the country.
Madam Wiredu noted that the frequent involvement of these vehicles in road accidents was a significant concern, prompting the committee to investigate the root causes.
Upon the completion of their work, the NRSA invited the media to cover the findings. During this briefing, the authority reiterated that it remains illegal to use a right-hand drive vehicle that has been converted into a left-hand drive for commercial purposes.
The committee’s mandate included examining whether such conversions contribute to crashes, determining the suitability of the vehicles for Ghana’s roads, and analysing crash data and safety trends to provide recommendations for public safety.
Madam Wiredu disclosed that the committee subsequently recommended that the NRSA strengthen existing laws prohibiting these activities.
Addressing the rumours directly, she stated: “The NRSA has not banned the use of Voxy. Our leaders are now going to engage further in the recommendations by the Committee.”
She further explained that the report is intended to determine the ultimate suitability of these vehicles for commercial use.
Madam Wiredu expressed disappointment in the Transport Operators Association for criticising the NRSA, noting that their representatives were present at the media engagement and were fully aware of the discussions.
“There was no discussion about a ban,” she clarified. “We had requested two weeks to study the report and recommendations from the committee. We had concerns over the spate of road crashes involving Toyota Voxy vehicles being used for commercial purposes and other related matters. So I don’t understand why the ban was mentioned when we had not yet taken that decision. If it became necessary, we would take that decision, but for now, we are not yet there.”
