MP Opposes Blanket Ban on Toyota Voxy, Calls for Balanced Road Safety Measures

Akyem Swedru Constituency Member of Parliament, Hon. Kennedy Nyarko Osei, has voiced opposition to calls for an outright ban on the use of Toyota Voxy vehicles in Ghana for commercial purposes, urging instead a more balanced and lawful approach to road safety enforcement.

Speaking on the ongoing debate surrounding the safety and legality of the popular minivan on Kessben Maakye show, the MP condemned reckless driving on Ghana’s roads but emphasized that solutions must align with existing laws and fairness.

“I do not support lawless and reckless driving on our roads. I am fully in support of any road safety laws to prevent accidents and loss of lives and properties,” he stated.

Hon. Osei pointed out that Ghana’s laws permit only left-hand drive vehicles, raising concerns about how right-hand drive vehicles—such as some Toyota Voxy models—are able to enter the country and become registered.

“If people are allowed to bypass the system with right-hand drive vehicles, knowing it is illegal, then who should be blamed? How do such vehicles pass through our ports and get registered?” he questioned.

The MP warned that an immediate ban on the vehicles could have serious economic consequences, including job losses and disruption of businesses that rely on them for commercial transport.

“If you now want to ban their use outright, it means you would throw people out of business and discriminate against others, because they are certainly not the only right-hand drive vehicles that have been converted to left-hand drive upon arrival in Ghana” he added.

Instead of a ban, Hon. Osei proposed stronger collaboration between the government and the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) to regulate the use of such vehicles effectively. He also called for stricter enforcement to prevent their use in long distance commercial activities where necessary.

“We should clamp down on their commercial use and implement regulations such as limiting their operational distances rather than banning them entirely,” he suggested.

He further noted that Toyota Voxy vehicles are not the only ones involved in road accidents, stressing that broader road safety compliance remains a national challenge.

“People simply do not respect road safety measures, and that contributes significantly to the damage we see on our roads,” he said.

Among other recommendations, the MP proposed that authorities publish the registration numbers of all Toyota Voxy vehicles and declare them invalid for long-distance commercial use. He also called for a stakeholder forum involving Voxy vehicle owners to discuss practical solutions.

Hon. Osei did not spare regulatory bodies, criticizing customs authorities for allowing the importation of non-compliant vehicles into the country.

“It is very bad for our Customs Service to allow any right-hand drive vehicle into the country except for diplomatic purposes,” he concluded.

The debate over the Toyota Voxy continues to stir public discussion, as authorities weigh safety concerns against the economic realities facing transport operators.