GRA to tighten controls on importation of right-hand drive vehicles

The Ghana Revenue Authority says it will work with other state agencies to clamp down on the importation and clearance of some right-hand drive vehicles, following safety concerns raised by the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA). The move reflects growing efforts by authorities to prioritise road safety and reduce accidents linked to unsuitable vehicles.

The move comes after the NRSA’s technical committee flagged the Toyota Voxy, a vehicle commonly imported and converted for commercial passenger transport, as unsafe for long-distance travel. The Authority has since moved to restrict its use, citing risks to commuters and other road users, particularly on highways where durability and structural integrity are critical.

Speaking on the Joy FM Super Morning Show on Friday, April 10, the Commissioner-General of the GRA, Anthony Kwasi Sarpong, said the Authority will not prioritise revenue collection over public safety. His remarks underscore a shift toward balancing fiscal responsibilities with citizen protection.

He explained that while vehicle regulation is not directly within the GRA’s core mandate, the Authority works closely with other institutions when safety issues arise, ensuring coordinated responses across agencies.

“This is an evolving matter that has just come to us in terms of GRA. When it comes to the licensing and regulation of the correct vehicle that must be on our roads, it falls outside the domain of GRA,” he said. This highlights the multi-agency nature of vehicle regulation in Ghana.

Mr Sarpong added that the GRA often collaborates with security and regulatory agencies when imported goods or vehicles pose a public risk, reinforcing the importance of inter-agency cooperation.

“In our work, we collaborate with a number of agencies. When matters come to our attention, although our mandate is to raise revenue, we do collaborate and sometimes override the objective of revenue,” he said. This approach prioritises national safety over financial considerations.

He pointed to previous enforcement actions at the ports where safety and security concerns took priority over revenue generation, demonstrating a precedent for such decisions.

“For example, in the area of narcotics, when we find goods containing banned substances, we hand them over to the narcotics control unit. There are many instances where we have destroyed items and did not allow revenue to be a factor,” he said. These actions reflect strict adherence to national laws and safety standards.

He said a similar approach would now be applied to the issue of vehicles such as the Toyota Voxy, which has been identified as a safety risk. Authorities are expected to introduce stricter checks and enforcement measures at entry points.

“In this area of vehicles, it is a new issue that is coming up. We are going to work with sister agencies and come out with a plan and system to ensure its continued existence is stopped, so it does not become a danger on our roads.” This signals possible future restrictions or bans on certain vehicle types.

Meanwhile, following the rollout of the Publican AI system for import clearance, the GRA boss explains that the system forms part of efforts to modernise customs operations, improve efficiency at the ports, and strengthen revenue mobilisation. The technology is expected to enhance monitoring and compliance.

He insists it will not lead to any new charges or hidden costs for importers, reassuring stakeholders in the import and logistics sector that reforms are aimed at efficiency rather than additional financial burden.