Amaliba blames Customs over influx of converted vehicles amid NRSA crackdown

The Director-General of the National Road Safety Authority, Abraham Amaliba, has criticised the Ghana Revenue Authority’s Customs Division for failing to enforce laws banning the importation of right-hand drive vehicles.

Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Mr Amaliba expressed frustration over what he described as weak enforcement, despite clear legal provisions under the Customs Act.

“Customs is not helping us, and I don’t understand why. The law is clear, yet it is not being enforced,” he said.

He cited provisions under the law—Act 891 (51)—which prohibit the importation and conversion of right-hand drive vehicles, stressing that strict enforcement at the ports would have prevented the current situation.

“If the cars were not allowed into the country, we wouldn’t be having this conversation,” he emphasised.

His comments follow a technical committee report that has triggered plans to restrict the use of Toyota Voxy vehicles for long-distance commercial transport due to safety concerns.

Mr Amaliba revealed that many of these vehicles are imported as right-hand drive and later converted locally—an act he described as illegal.

“They change it from right-hand to left-hand. The garages that are doing this, we will close them down. Those operating here are engaged in illegality,” he warned.

He acknowledged that some conversions are carried out abroad before shipment but insisted that local operators would still face sanctions.

To strengthen enforcement, the NRSA plans to engage key institutions, including the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority, Ghana Standards Authority, the Ghana Police Service Motor Traffic and Transport Department, and transport unions such as the Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council.

“We will write officially and attach the report to all relevant bodies… and ensure coordinated action,” he said.

As an interim measure, Mr Amaliba noted that affected vehicles already in the country—particularly Toyota Voxy models—will be restricted to short-distance, intra-city operations.

He added that the issue extends beyond the Voxy, citing the Toyota Matrix as another vehicle that has undergone similar conversions, though mostly used for ride-hailing within cities.

“It is not only Toyota Voxy… So we are saying Voxy drivers can do the same,” he noted.

The NRSA maintains that stricter enforcement, especially at Ghana’s ports, will be critical to addressing the problem and improving road safety.

“I believe it all depends on the heads of the institutions. People were there before me, but nothing was done,” Mr Amaliba added, signalling a renewed push to ensure compliance.