Ghana has recorded a sharp rise in the registration of Toyota Voxy vehicles, with 3,570 units registered in the first two months of 2026 alone, according to the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA).
The figure, contained in the NRSA’s technical report submitted on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, is nearly equal to the 3,687 Voxy vehicles registered throughout the entire year of 2025.
“While only 34% are registered as commercial vehicles, field evidence confirms widespread use of privately registered Voxy vehicles for commercial passenger transport,” the report stated.
The NRSA has raised serious safety concerns over the trend and has declared the commercial use of the Toyota Voxy unlawful.
In official correspondence to the Authority, Toyota Tsusho Corporation clarified that only the HiAce, GranAce, and Coaster models are designed and built for commercial passenger transport.
The Voxy, according to the Japanese firm, is intended as a minivan for young, middle-class families. It has a ground clearance of just 150mm, significantly lower than the HiAce’s 185mm, making it unsuitable for long-distance travel on Ghana’s often rough and uneven roads.
However, many operators have been modifying the vehicles by installing longer struts and larger tyres to increase ground clearance for commercial use.
The NRSA report warns that such modifications compromise the structural integrity and road safety of the vehicle, especially when subjected to the higher stress and poor road conditions typical of inter-city passenger transport.
Consequently, the Authority has banned the use of Toyota Voxy vehicles for commercial passenger transport purposes.
The decision forms part of efforts to enforce vehicle standards and protect lives on Ghanaian roads.
The NRSA has also called for stricter enforcement by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) regarding the registration and importation of such vehicles.
