A Call for Urgent Implementation and Public Education on the Vehicle/Transport Physical Conversion Act and Safeguarding Ghanaian Passengers!!!!!!!

In Ghana’s bustling cities and towns, the “trotro” is more than a vehicle; it’s a lifeline. From early morning commutes to late-night returns, millions of Ghanaians depend on these minibuses for their daily transport. Yet, behind the convenience they offer lies a growing safety concern — one that the Vehicle/Transport Physical Conversion Act seeks to address but is yet to be fully realized due to poor public awareness, lax enforcement, and insufficient stakeholder coordination.

The Danger of Neglecting Physical Conversion Standards

Vehicle conversion — the modification of vehicles from their original design, particularly for public transport use — has become commonplace. Buses are often repurposed from cargo vans, passenger seats are installed haphazardly, and in some cases, basic safety features such as seatbelts, emergency exits, or reinforced body frames are ignored. This puts lives at risk.

Everyday trotro users are often unaware that the vehicle they have trusted with their lives may not meet minimum safety standards. Accidents involving poorly converted vehicles often result in disproportionate injuries and fatalities — an entirely preventable outcome if standards were adhered to and strictly enforced.

The Vehicle/Transport Physical Conversion Act was passed to regulate such conversions, ensuring that all modified vehicles meet clearly defined structural and safety specifications before being allowed on the road. These provisions include:

1) Rigorous inspection and certification of converted vehicles by licensed authorities.

2) Registration and classification of converted public transport vehicles.

3) Mandatory safety checks including the installation of seatbelts, ventilation, exits, and weight-balancing.

4) Penalties for unauthorized or unsafe modifications.

While commendable in its scope, the Act remains ineffective in the absence of widespread awareness and a firm, coordinated enforcement effort and lack of proper management of our transport sector by successive governments.

Stakeholders, including the Ministry of Transport, DVLA, transport unions, municipal authorities, media houses, and civil society — must work together to launch a nation-wide education campaign. This should involve:

A) Public awareness drives, Informing passengers about the risks of poorly converted vehicles and how to identify certified ones.

B) Driver and operator workshops: Educating transport owners, drivers, and artisans on the legal and safety requirements of vehicle conversions.

C) Local language outreach: Using radio, television, and community gatherings in local dialects to ensure the message reaches all demographics.

D) Public signage and announcements at transport terminals: Making safety messages visible and memorable where they matter most.

We strongly call for the Need to Strictly Implement and Account regularly to the good people of Ghana.

Informing the public alone isn’t enough. The Act must be enforced with unwavering consistency.

Routine inspections and road checks must be conducted, especially in high-traffic terminals and routes.

Clear penalties and sanctions must be imposed on those who flout the law, including garages involved in unauthorized conversions.

Certification stickers or IDs should be prominently displayed on compliant vehicles to help passengers make informed choices.

Whistleblower protections and incentives should be offered to those who report unsafe vehicles or fraudulent conversions.

Empowering the Ghanaian Passenger

At the heart of this issue is the protection of the average Ghanaian passenger
the market woman, the student, the security guard, the teacher. They deserve more than a ride. They deserve a safe, regulated, and dignified means of transport.

The call to action is now or never. Government agencies, private transport operators, media stakeholders, and the Ghanaian public must unite and support DEVASS AUTO LIMITED to assist,promote, support and demand, the full enforcement and education of the Vehicle/Transport Physical Conversion Act. It is not only a matter of law and most importantly a matter of life and death.

The trotro may be a symbol of Ghana’s resilient spirit, but it must also become a symbol of safety and accountability. Let us not wait for more other tragedies before we act.

Source: Evans Afari Gyan Yeboah
Bono Regional Organizer & Executive Director – DEVASS AUTO LIMITED
June 2025