The government has intensified efforts to make vehicle registration and driver licensing services more accessible to Ghanaians while introducing technology-driven measures to improve road safety and strengthen the integrity of the country’s transport system.
The Minister for Transport, Hon. Joseph Bukari Nikpe, said the government is rolling out 40 new offices of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) across the country, with the newly commissioned facility at Esogyamang becoming the 25th office opened under the programme.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Minister Nikpe said the expansion forms part of government’s commitment to bringing essential public services closer to citizens and eliminating the difficulties motorists face travelling long distances to access vehicle registration, licensing and other DVLA services.
He said the first phase of the expansion programme is expected to be completed by the end of the year, describing the development as an important step towards decentralising transport-related services and making them more convenient for vehicle owners, drivers and commercial operators.
According to him, improving access to official DVLA services would not only save motorists time and money but would also strengthen vehicle ownership security and help combat fraud associated with unregistered vehicles and fake documentation.
He therefore urged vehicle owners and drivers to use authorised DVLA offices for their transactions and avoid informal intermediaries who could expose them to fraudulent documents and possible legal consequences.
Government Steps Up Road Safety Measures
Mr. Nikpe further disclosed that the Ministry of Transport, in collaboration with the Ghana Police Service and the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), is strengthening measures to tackle road crashes and promote discipline among road users.
At the centre of the initiative is “Traffic Tech”, a technology-driven enforcement system designed to detect and deter traffic violations, including overspeeding.
He also announced plans for the introduction of a new number plate fitted with an embedded SIM to support enforcement and vehicle identification, forming part of government’s broader effort to use technology to improve road safety and accountability on Ghana’s roads.
The Minister also announced a comprehensive training and certification programme for commercial motorcycle, tricycle and quadracycle operators.
Under the programme, operators will undergo safety training and certification, with the DVLA, NRSA and Traffic Tech teams expected to provide education and appropriate protective clothing before new riders are allowed to operate commercially.
The initiative, he said, was intended to bring greater order and standardisation to commercial motorcycle and three-wheel transport while protecting both operators and passengers.
DVLA Expands Hours and Introduces Biometric Licensing
The Chief Executive Officer of the DVLA, Julius Neequaye Kotey, said the Authority is complementing the physical expansion of its offices with major reforms aimed at improving convenience, efficiency and transparency.
He said the newly commissioned office represents the 25th DVLA facility opened within the past 18 months as part of the nationwide expansion programme.
Mr. Kotey disclosed that the Authority had also extended operating hours at selected offices to enable motorists to access services beyond the traditional working day.
The Adenta office, he said, now operates 24 hours from Monday to Saturday, while offices in Kumasi, Tamale, Cape Coast and Winneba have extended their closing times to 10 p.m.
He said the measures were designed to reduce pressure at DVLA offices, improve customer experience and give working people greater flexibility in accessing government services.
The DVLA CEO also announced the introduction of biometric international driving licences and the transition of driving permits to biometric formats beginning next month.
The biometric system, he explained, would strengthen identity verification, reduce fraud and improve the integrity of Ghana’s licensing system.
The Authority is also introducing an electronic road-safety education programme, dubbed the “eLibrary”, which will provide drivers and riders with short audio and video safety modules that can be accessed at DVLA offices.
New Measures for Commercial Riders
Mr. Kotey said the DVLA would also introduce new identification measures for commercial motorcycle riders, including distinctive licence plates and regionally colour-coded jackets.
Commercial riders will also be required to wear helmets and comply with safety requirements as part of efforts to make the growing sector safer and easier for law-enforcement agencies to monitor.
He said the Authority was equally rolling out a formal vehicle layoff system that would allow vehicle owners who temporarily take their vehicles off the road to officially register them as laid off for up to one year and obtain layoff certificates.
The DVLA is also expanding the use of point-of-sale terminals and encouraging cashless payments to improve transparency and reduce the risks associated with cash transactions at its offices.
Mr. Kotey appealed for adequate security for DVLA officers working extended hours, saying the safety of staff must be guaranteed as the Authority expands access to its services.
Thomas Apem Nyarko Commends Government’s Vision
Deputy Minister for Finance and Member of Parliament for Esogyamang, Thomas Apem Nyarko, commended the government and the DVLA leadership for bringing the new facility to the constituency.
He said the new office would significantly reduce the time, fuel and other costs incurred by residents and commercial drivers who previously had to travel long distances to renew licences and obtain roadworthy certificates.
Hon. Nyarko said the project reflected the impact that effective national leadership and institutional coordination could have on communities.
He commended President John Dramani Mahama, the Transport Minister and the DVLA Chief Executive for advancing the decentralisation programme.
“It takes a good vision by a President and sterling leadership by a sector minister and the Chief Executive of the DVLA to implement these programmes,” he said.
The Deputy Finance Minister said the opening of the DVLA office formed part of broader developments taking place in the area, including plans for a district office of the Ghana Maritime Authority and an agreement with the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) to establish a campus at Akumu Jakiti.
He said construction of hostels and lecture rooms for the UPSA campus was expected to begin this year, while Ghana Prisons had also agreed to establish an agricultural institution on a 1,000-acre site at Nanaum to provide inmates with agricultural training and promote food production and self-sufficiency.
Hon. Nyarko said the developments demonstrated the renewed attention being given to infrastructure, education, transportation services and institutional development in the area.
The commissioning of the new DVLA facility therefore marks not only an expansion of vehicle and driver services but also another step in government’s broader effort to decentralise public services, modernise transport regulation and deploy technology to make Ghana’s roads safer.
With 25 of the planned 40 DVLA offices already operational, the government is positioning the expansion as a major service-delivery reform intended to ensure that motorists and drivers can access essential services closer to their communities while strengthening enforcement, verification and road-safety systems nationwide.
Story Osman Issah Abadoo
