NRSA Boss Defends Planned Closure of Garages Over Illegal Steering Conversions

The Director-General of the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), Abraham Amaliba, has defended the Authority’s decision to clamp down on garages that convert right-hand-drive vehicles to left-hand drive, describing the practice as illegal and a significant road safety threat.

A Technical Working Committee established by the NRSA presented its final report in Accra on April 8, 2026, indicating that the Toyota Voxy often imported as right-hand-drive and later converted poses what it described as an unacceptable risk to passengers and other road users.

Committee Chairman Godwin Kafui Ayetor explained that the vehicle model was originally designed for private family use rather than commercial transport. He added that structural alterations, including suspension modifications and the use of unsuitable tyres, worsen safety concerns.

Mr Amaliba stressed that such conversions violate existing laws and compromise vehicle safety standards. He warned that the Authority intends to close down garages involved in the practice and arrest individuals who continue to carry out the illegal modifications.

He further indicated that the NRSA will formally notify key state institutions, including the Ghana Revenue Authority Customs Division, Ghana Standards Authority, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority, and the Motor Traffic and Transport Department of the Ghana Police Service, attaching the committee’s findings to support enforcement actions.

According to him, the Authority will also engage transport operators next week as part of a broader nationwide effort to sanitise the vehicle conversion space and improve road safety.