Road Safety Advocate Sues DVLA, NIC Over Converted Toyota Voxy/Noah Vehicles

Road Safety Advocate Sues DVLA, NIC Over Converted Toyota Voxy/Noah Vehicles

A road safety advocate , Osei  Kwabena has filed a suit at the High Court in Accra seeking to halt the registration, licensing and insurance of converted Toyota Voxy and Toyota Noah vehicles, arguing that the practice poses serious safety risks and lacks the required legal and regulatory backing.

The plaintiff, Osei Kwabena,described in court documents as a lawyer, road safety advocate and road user, is asking the court to declare the continued registration and insurance of the converted vehicles unlawful.

In the substantive suit, he seeks a declaration that the registration, licensing and issuance of Road Use Certificates for converted Toyota Voxy and Noah vehicles breach provisions of the Customs Act, 2015 (Act 891), the Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2180), and Ghana Standards Authority requirements.

The Plaintiff is also seeking a perpetual injunction to restrain the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) and the National Insurance Commission (NIC) from registering, licensing, insuring or permitting the operation of the vehicles until the Ministry of Transport issues a policy directive or White Paper on recommendations made by a Technical Working Group (TWG).

Pending the final determination of the case, the Plaintiff has also filed an application for an interlocutory injunction to stop the DVLA from registering or issuing Road Use Certificates for the vehicles, and to restrain the NIC from approving or renewing insurance policies covering them.

According to the Writ of Summons, the suit stems from findings by a Technical Working Group set up by the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) following concerns over fatal crashes involving Toyota Voxy and Noah vehicles.

The plaintiff alleges that the group found that Toyota Tsusho Corporation of Japan manufactures the vehicles only in right-hand-drive (RHD) form for the Japanese domestic market and does not approve their conversion to left-hand drive.

He further claims that many of the converted vehicles undergo structural modifications, including changes to steering systems, dashboards, wiring harnesses and other safety-critical components, without approved engineering standards or regulatory certification.

Mr. Osei Kwabena also contends that no Ghana Standards Authority standards currently exist specifically for such conversions, and that the Ministry of Transport has not approved the importation of right-hand-drive Toyota Voxy and Noah vehicles into Ghana.

He argues that the continued registration and insurance of the converted vehicles expose motorists and the public to unnecessary risk and irreparable harm.

The outcome could have significant implications for the regulation of converted vehicles in Ghana, particularly in the areas of registration, insurance, importation and road safety.