The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has impounded 40 vehicles at the Tema Harbour following an intelligence-led operation that uncovered the use of fake and misapplied Drive from Port (DP) stickers.
According to the Authority, the exercise revealed that some vehicles were fitted with fraudulent DP stickers, while others bore genuine stickers that had been wrongly assigned to vehicles with mismatched records.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the affected vehicles were imported into Ghana by CFAO. However, the DVLA noted that evidence points to an agent engaged to clear the vehicles on behalf of the company, who allegedly employed illegal methods that resulted in the discrepancies.
The DVLA explained that the introduction of DP stickers was part of reforms aimed at addressing revenue leakages associated with the previous aluminum DP plate system. Following the rollout, the Authority recorded a sharp increase in the issuance of DP stickers—from an average of 2,000 per month to about 15,000 in October 2025.
However, a recent decline in DP sticker issuance at the ports raised concerns and triggered further investigations, ultimately leading to the latest enforcement action.
The Authority disclosed that it is working closely with National Security to probe the matter and intensify efforts to curb fraudulent practices within the vehicle importation and registration process.
It further underscored the importance of accurate vehicle data in ensuring road safety, improving traceability, and supporting effective transport policy decisions. Maintaining data integrity from the point of entry through to final registration, the DVLA stressed, remains a key priority.
Story By: Eric Boateng
