Ghana Infrastructure and Road Safety: NRSA Flags Toyota Voxy Risks as GHA Schedules Dzorwulu Footbridge Repairs

The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) and the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) have issued critical updates aimed at enhancing public safety across the country's transport network. The NRSA has released an urgent public advisory warning against the use of modified Toyota Voxy vehicles for commercial passenger transport, citing significant structural and mechanical risks. Simultaneously, the GHA has announced a schedule for emergency repair works on the Dzorwulu Footbridge, following a structural impact caused by a lowbed truck earlier this year. These developments highlight a dual focus by transport authorities on addressing both vehicle-specific hazards and critical infrastructure maintenance.

The NRSA’s advisory specifically targets Toyota Voxy minivans that have been converted from right-hand drive to left-hand drive. A Technical Working Group found that these conversions are frequently conducted without adhering to proper engineering standards, which compromises the vehicle's integrity and increases the likelihood of mechanical failure. Despite being originally manufactured as family minivans for private use, there has been a rising trend of these vehicles being used for commercial purposes. The NRSA emphasized that such misuse, coupled with unsafe structural modifications, poses a grave danger to passengers. The authority is currently collaborating with multiple institutions to enforce safety regulations and ensure that only compliant vehicles operate within the transport sector.

In a separate development concerning road infrastructure, the Ghana Highway Authority is set to undertake structural repairs on the Dzorwulu Footbridge from April 18 to April 24, 2026. The repairs are a response to an incident in February 2026 involving a lowbed truck that caused minimal but necessary damage to the bridge's framework. During the repair period, the GHA will enforce controlled access to the bridge to facilitate the rehabilitation of walking surfaces and the reinforcement of safety components. To prevent similar occurrences in the future, the authority plans to introduce enhanced height restriction signage and implement stricter monitoring of over-height vehicles traversing the area.

These combined efforts by the NRSA and GHA underscore a comprehensive approach to road safety in Ghana, focusing on both the mechanical reliability of vehicles and the integrity of physical infrastructure. While the GHA has apologized for the temporary inconvenience the bridge repairs may cause, both agencies have urged the public and transport operators to comply strictly with traffic regulations. Moving forward, the NRSA’s increased vigilance regarding vehicle modifications and the GHA’s proactive maintenance of footbridges are expected to contribute significantly to reducing road-related incidents and ensuring a safer environment for commuters and pedestrians alike.