The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has defended a new diaspora-focused service rollout after what it described as inaccurate headlines suggested it was preparing to deploy staff to work permanently in Ghana’s embassies abroad.
In a strongly worded clarification, the Authority said it had observed “misleading news headlines over the extended services of DVLA to selected foreign countries,” prompting management to set the record straight.
Rather than exporting its operations overseas, the DVLA explained that it has entered into a collaborative arrangement with the Foreign Affairs Ministry to streamline access to selected services for Ghanaians living outside the country.
“For clarity, the DVLA, through an arrangement with the Foreign Affairs Ministry has agreed to collaborate with Ghana’s Embassies across the globe to provide selected services including International Driver’s Permit and Driver’s Licence Renewal to qualified Ghanaian citizens domiciled in other countries,” the statement said.
The initiative, which begins with a pilot phase, will be rolled out in the United States of America, Canada, Germany, The Netherlands and the High Commission of the United Kingdom. The move is aimed at reducing the logistical burden on diaspora applicants who currently must rely on intermediaries or travel home to complete certain licensing processes.
Under the model outlined by the Authority, embassy staff — not DVLA officers — will be trained to verify documentation before forwarding applications to Ghana for processing. “As part of the implementation plan, the DVLA will provide training to Embassy staff to do verification of documents and forward same to DVLA for processing. Once the processing is done, the Authority would then return the processed documents to the various Embassies for pick-up by the applicants,” the notice explained.
Management was categorical in dismissing suggestions that its officers would be stationed abroad. “This operation does not in any way mean that, the DVLA would post its domestic staff to work at Embassies in the aforementioned countries as the news headlines sought to portray.”
The clarification underscores the Authority’s broader reform agenda, which it says is focused on decentralising and digitising services to improve compliance and reduce defaults. “We wish to indicate that the Management of DVLA are committed to serving the interest of Ghanaians and has consistently pursued an agenda to place the services of the Authority closer to the people to minimize defaults as well as promote compliance,” the statement added.
The DVLA also used the opportunity to caution media organisations against speculative reporting, urging direct engagement with its Corporate Affairs Department for verification before publication. “We want to reiterate that the Authority practices an open-door policy and encourages the media and individuals who require clarity or information on the operations of the DVLA to approach the Corporate Affairs Department for such details to avoid such misleading reportage.”
Source: graphic.com.gh
