The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has announced plans to establish six international offices as part of a new initiative to crack down on the use of counterfeit Ghanaian driver’s licences abroad.
The move, which marks a significant expansion of the DVLA’s global footprint, will initially be piloted in countries with large Ghanaian populations, including Germany, Canada, the UK, the USA, Dubai, and South Africa, according to DVLA CEO Julius Neequaye Kotey.
“The DVLA under my leadership, together with Foster Yeboah, is going to open six new stations, which are going to be outside Ghana to address licensing issues. So far, we have approached some embassies, and we have been able to get Germany, UK, USA, Canada, Dubai, and South Africa on board. We are going to begin piloting with them,” Kotey said during a media briefing.
The announcement was made at the commissioning of a new DVLA facility in Adentan Municipality on Wednesday, May 7. The Adentan office is set to offer a 24-hour service and provide all core DVLA functions, including driver licensing and vehicle registration.
The overseas expansion is intended to curb the growing problem of fake licences among Ghanaians living abroad, an issue that has implications for road safety and international compliance.
Speaking at the event, Transport Minister Joseph Bukari Nikpe urged the DVLA to improve its service quality and uphold its statutory responsibilities.
“On behalf of the president, we charge DVLA to improve service delivery. They are responsible for registering and ensuring that any vehicle that plies our road is roadworthy. They are to ensure that they register every vehicle and provide that kind of quality service to the people of Ghana,” Nikpe stated.
