The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has accused the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) of failing to conduct proper due diligence in approving Toyota Voxy vehicles for long-distance commercial transport, following concerns over their safety.
The decision by the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) to ban the use of Toyota Voxy vehicles for long-distance commercial operations has been met with backlash and criticism.
The move follows the establishment of a Technical Working Group to investigate the safety of converted Toyota Voxy vehicles used for commercial passenger transport, particularly on long-distance routes involving vans and minibuses.
The NRSA has justified the ban, citing serious safety concerns. However, the GPRTU is blaming the DVLA for what it describes as improper due diligence in the registration of the vehicles for commercial use.
Speaking to Starr News, the Deputy Industrial Relations Officer of the GPRTU, Samuel Amoah, stated that the vehicles in question were duly inspected and registered by the DVLA for commercial use. Operators submitted the required documentation, and the vehicles were subsequently approved and allowed to operate on the roads.
He noted that this raises concerns about the level of due diligence exercised. According to him, if proper checks had been conducted at the point of registration, the issues may have been identified earlier. He added that the vehicles have already been serving commuters and providing essential transport services.
Mr. Amoah argued that an outright ban at this stage may not address the root of the problem. Instead, he called for a more thorough investigation to determine where the lapses occurred, adding that the GPRTU is currently undertaking its own assessment.
He further stated that if individuals go through the legal process to register vehicles for commercial use, only to later face a ban, it calls into question the effectiveness of the initial approval process. This, he said, suggests that the DVLA may not have fully discharged its responsibility in ensuring the safety and suitability of these vehicles before registration
Discussion about this post