The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has uncovered a network producing over 30,000 counterfeit dealer vehicle (DV) plates, valued at more than GH¢12.5 million. The Chief Executive Officer of DVLA, Julius Neequaye Kotey, described the scheme as “not merely a regulatory breach” but “a criminal enterprise that threatens national security, undermines law enforcement, and deprives the state of legitimate revenue,” with annual losses estimated at GH¢20 million.
Investigations by the DVLA, in collaboration with the Ghana Police Service and national security operatives, revealed a well-structured operation. Counterfeit plates were manufactured at an undisclosed location and then transported at night to a distribution point in LaPaz in Accra, where they were circulated in Kumasi and Takoradi. The fake plates were often accompanied by forged motor insurance certificates and logbook documents, creating the appearance of legitimate registration.
Five suspects, identified as “goro boys” operating as intermediaries around DVLA offices, have been remanded and are scheduled to reappear in court on March 17, 2026. Authorities are pursuing two additional suspects believed to be the masterminds of the network. Kotey stressed plans to intensify enforcement operations and urged the public to transact only with authorised DVLA officials.
To curb the proliferation of counterfeit plates, the DVLA plans to introduce radio-frequency identification (RFID) embedded plates, which will enable law enforcement to verify registrations electronically. The authority also intends to expand its presence with five new offices in the coming weeks, part of a broader effort to strengthen service delivery nationwide.
