Ghana Bans Toyota Voxy for Public Transport Use | By Gifty Odamtten
Ghana is set to ban the use of the Toyota Voxy for commercial passenger transport following a damning report by a government-appointed committee highlighting significant safety risks associated with the vehicle’s usage.
Presenting the committee’s findings in Accra on April 8, Mr. Godwin Kafui Ayetor, Chairman of the Committee, described the widespread commercial deployment of the Voxy as a major threat to passenger safety, calling for urgent regulatory intervention.
According to the report presented, the Toyota Voxy, originally designed as a family minivan for urban, paved-road use, is not suited for high-mileage commercial operations or the often challenging road conditions encountered in Ghana.
The committee noted that manufacturers recommend vehicles such as the Toyota Hiace for such purposes, given their durability and suitability for commercial transport.
The investigation further revealed that many Voxy vehicles currently operating as public transport have undergone extensive and often unsafe structural modifications. These include alterations to suspension systems, increased vehicle height, and the use of inappropriate tyres not designed for heavy loads or prolonged usage.
“These modifications, frequently carried out by unlicensed operators, significantly compromise vehicle integrity and increase the risk of mechanical failure,” the report stated.
Beyond technical deficiencies, the committee identified a broader regulatory failure that has enabled the proliferation of such vehicles. It cited the unlawful importation of vehicles, lack of standardized conversion processes, and inadequate inspection regimes prior to registration and commercial use.
“We have allowed thousands of unlawfully imported vehicles to enter the country, be modified without standards, and operated commercially despite private registration in some cases,” Mr. Ayetor noted.
The proposed ban is expected to form part of broader reforms aimed at strengthening transport safety standards and regulatory enforcement, particularly within Ghana’s informal public transport sector.
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