Story by, Paul Mensah Nsor
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has undertaken an ambitious program of reforms and service expansions aimed at improving road safety, transparency and public access to licensing services across Ghana.
Speaking at a press briefing, DVLA CEO Julius Neequaye Kotey said the agency aligned its operations with government priorities on road safety and public accountability and moved quickly to implement a slate of operational reforms. “Within one year in office, we aligned our operations to government priorities for road safety and education,” he said, describing the reforms as reflecting the administration’s “commitment to transparency, innovation and public accountability.”
Mass registration at ports, crackdown on unregistered equipment
A major focus during the year was the registration of earth‑moving and heavy equipment arriving at Ghana’s ports. The DVLA reported registering more than 10,000 such pieces of equipment since the initiative began, a step officials described as necessary after discovering many seized vehicles and equipment were unregistered when recovered by police and military forces.
“We realized during the fight against [illicit imports] most of the seized by the police and military were not registered with us, so we took the initiative to register equipment at the port of entry,” the CEO explained. Officials said that the program has significantly increased the number of registrations handled at ports, with monthly registration volumes rising from a previously low baseline to between 10,000 and 16,000 in peak months.
Internal processing and reduction of outsourcing
Kotey emphasized that much of the registration and related work has been handled in‑house rather than outsourced. “We did not go for any controllers. Everything was done in‑house,” he said, highlighting what the agency framed as an internal capacity strengthening that enabled faster service delivery and reduced dependence on external contractors.
Tackling license backlogs and printing delays
The DVLA has also focused on clearing a backlog of driver licenses. The agency confronted lengthy printing delays that in some cases stretched to more than a year. To address this bottleneck, DVLA engaged the license supplier and adjusted procurement and payment processes to accelerate production. The result, officials said, was the printing and distribution of tens of thousands of licenses, a vital step toward restoring public confidence and ensuring motorists receive documentation in a timely manner.
Expansion of offices and launch of 24‑hour services
One of the most visible outcomes of the year’s reforms was a substantial expansion of DVLA’s physical footprint. The agency established multiple new offices across the country, including dedicated 24‑hour service points. Kotey touted the opening of the agency’s first 24‑hour office, saying DVLA is “the first institution to start a 24‑hour service from Monday to Friday,” with extended hours over weekends at some locations.
Last year alone, the agency established roughly 10 new offices, distributed across several regions. These include 24‑hour offices and Ultra service outlets established through public‑private partnership (PPP) arrangements in collaboration with the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Finance. Regions specifically mentioned as benefiting from the expansion include Savannah, Borle, Ashanti, Eastern, Greater Accra, Volta and Ejisu.
Infrastructure improvements included completing the “wager office” (noted as roughly 80–85% finished when this administration assumed responsibility) and contributing to the completion of other regional facilities that were previously abandoned. Kotey said DVLA completed construction elements and commissioned offices to provide frontline services to citizens, helping to fill service gaps across regions.
Partnerships with other agencies to streamline services
The year’s reforms also emphasized interagency collaboration. DVLA reported partnering with the State Insurance Company (SIC) to ensure vehicles arriving from ports receive interim two‑week insurance coverage while registration and verification proceed. The agency also collaborated with the National Identification Authority (NIA) to provide NIA services on DVLA premises at select stations, enabling citizens to access multiple government services in one location.
Kotey noted that several of these partner services have so far been provided without immediate fees charged to citizens, consistent with government policy that aims to reduce direct charges to the public during reform rollout.
Mobile licensing, SMS reminders and skills development
To improve accessibility, DVLA continued the deployment of its mobile licensing units that issue driver documents at terminals and other community locations. The agency introduced an SMS notification system to remind drivers when their licenses are due to expire. In a change slated for implementation, DVLA intends to align license expiration with a driver’s date of birth so that expiry notifications and renewals become more predictable for license holders.
The DVLA also emphasized capacity building and public education. Training initiatives included instructing tractor operators and “pastor boys” (a locally referenced term for certain driver communities) on safe operation practices, as well as establishing a Skills Development Center to deliver broader road safety and management training. The agency reported frequent field visits and terminal checks as part of routine oversight and public engagement.
Revenue growth and reinvestment into services
Operationally, DVLA reported financial improvements tied to the reforms. The CEO stated that revenue increased by about 9% over the prior year’s baseline and that the agency exceeded expectations during the reporting period, with some months showing marked growth. Revenues are being used to support expanded operations, including procurement of vehicles for fieldwork, equipment to kick‑start additional 24‑hour services across regional stations, and acquisition of light gadgets and other technology needed for enforcement and service delivery.
Compliance officers and street enforcement
A controversial but central measure introduced during the year was the deployment of DVLA compliance officers for street enforcement. Kotey described these officers not as revenue collectors but as educated, “smart” personnel tasked primarily with public education and enforcement of road and licensing regulations. He stressed that compliance officers would return to visible street presence with a mandate to educate and enforce rules without engaging in money collection.
Introducing emission testing and vehicle inspection systems
Looking ahead, DVLA announced plans to roll out an automated vehicle emission testing system and strengthen vehicle inspection protocols. The new systems are intended to standardize testing and reduce subjectivity in inspections. The CEO explained that the emission testing program will not simply issue pass/fail verdicts: it will diagnose emissions problems and provide vehicle owners with guidance on corrective actions required before reinspection or certification.
Officials also referenced a third license plate security initiative and other anti‑fraud measures that had been designed prior to the current administration but will be implemented under its tenure to boost system integrity.
Public reception and next steps
Government and DVLA officials framed these changes as essential to modernizing vehicle and driver services while enhancing road safety and institutional transparency. The agency’s push to decentralize services, expand hours, and automate testing aims to make compliance easier for motorists and to reduce corruption opportunities by limiting informal payment points.
Critics and stakeholders will likely monitor the rollout of compliance officers to ensure officers do not overstep their mandate, while the public will be watching for the promised improvements in license delivery times and the timely rollout of emission testing equipment. Continued interagency cooperation. particularly with SIC and NIA, will be crucial to sustaining service integration.
DVLA’s leadership said the agency will continue to expand 24‑hour services to most regional stations, complete outstanding construction projects, and deploy new technologies across its network. If the current trajectory continues, Ghana may see more streamlined vehicle registration, faster license issuance, and a strengthened regulatory framework supporting safer roads.
