The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has intensified efforts to safeguard Ghana’s vehicle registration system after uncovering a large criminal network responsible for producing and distributing counterfeit DV number plates across the country.
Speaking at a news conference, the Chief Executive Officer of the DVLA, Julius Neequaye Kotey, said investigations revealed that more than 30,000 fake DV plates had been circulated through the illegal operation, with an estimated street value of GH¢12.5 million.
So far, five suspects have been arrested in connection with the scheme and remanded into custody, while security agencies continue the search for two additional suspects believed to be on the run.
According to him, the illegal operation has been costing the state significant revenue. He said the Authority estimates that the circulation of counterfeit DV plates results in annual losses exceeding GH¢20 million.
The discovery has prompted the Authority to strengthen its internal processes and tighten the issuance of DV plates beginning in 2026.
New Technology to Stop Counterfeiting
Mr. Kotey revealed that as part of the reforms, the DVLA will introduce RFID chip-embedded number plates, a technology designed to make vehicle plates traceable and significantly harder to counterfeit.
The new system is expected to enhance road safety enforcement and improve the tracking of vehicles involved in criminal activities.
Crackdown on “Goro Boys”
Officials also warned that individuals commonly referred to as “Goro Boys” — middlemen who operate within and around DVLA premises offering unofficial services — will face prosecution if caught facilitating illegal plate issuance.
Mr. Kotey reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to protecting the integrity of Ghana’s vehicle registration system.
He urged the public to deal directly with authorized DVLA staff and avoid engaging middlemen in the registration process.
The Authority said it is collaborating closely with law enforcement agencies to dismantle the criminal network behind the fake plates and eliminate the production and circulation of counterfeit vehicle numbers in Ghana.
Officials noted that the crackdown forms part of broader efforts to strengthen regulatory oversight and improve road safety nationwide.
Story by Osman Issah Abadoo
