The Chief Executive of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), Mr. Julius Neequaye Kotey, has stirred conversation after defending his decision to regularise the operations of so-called “goro boys”; the middlemen who hang around DVLA offices offering to speed up processes for a fee.
While these informal agents have long been criticized for encouraging corruption and exploiting desperate customers, the DVLA boss argues that bringing them into the system could be part of the solution, not the problem.
“We’ve tried chasing them out for years. Maybe it’s time to try something new, let’s train them, give them official IDs, monitor their work, and see if we can turn them into regulated service providers,” he said.
The announcement has divided opinion, with some applauding the boldness of the approach, while others worry it could backfire.
Anyone who’s ever tried to register a vehicle or renew a license knows the frustration of long queues and unclear processes. ‘Goro boys’, for better or worse, know the system. With proper training and regulation, they could help speed things up. By bringing them into the system, the DVLA can set rules, cap fees, and reduce under-the-table dealings.
If they operate under the DVLA’s watch, customers would at least know what they’re paying for. Instead of constantly trying to drive them away, the policy could offer a legitimate path to employment for hundreds of young men currently hustling informally.
If done right, it could mean faster service and less stress for the average person who just wants to get their paperwork done without the usual DVLA headaches.
However, critics fear that formalizing goro boys could send the wrong message, that the government is rewarding those who’ve flouted the system for years. Implementing the idea may also pose significant challenges, particularly in training, monitoring, and enforcing discipline among people who’ve been outside the system for so long.
Some DVLA staff might feel threatened or undermined by the move, potentially leading to internal conflicts that could make matters worse rather than better.
Furthermore, there’s the risk that many goro boys will prefer to stay in the shadows, where they can charge higher fees and avoid oversight, ultimately undermining the initiative’s objectives.
This isn’t the first time a government agency in Ghana has tried to turn a problem into a solution. It’s bold and unorthodox, but perhaps that’s exactly what our broken systems need.
