The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has assured the public that its new 2026 vehicle registration system will significantly enhance national security and vehicle traceability without complicating existing procedures.
Addressing stakeholders at an engagement in Ho, Mr. Kwasi Bona Otuo Srebour, Deputy Director for Vehicle Inspection and Registration at the DVLA Head Office, said the upcoming system introduces technology-driven licence plates but retains the current registration steps.
“Vehicle owners will still bring their vehicles for inspection and present valid identification for ownership verification. The process remains the same; what changes is the end product the licence plate,” he clarified.
The new plates will be embedded with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chips, replacing the current aluminium plates that carry no verifiable digital information. According to Mr. Srebour, this upgrade is aimed at eliminating unapproved registrations, improving vehicle traceability, enabling electronic documentation of vehicle activities, and curbing crimes linked to fake plates.
He stressed that the enhanced plates can only be issued through the DVLA’s digital system after proper registration, making them non-transferable and impossible to reproduce unlawfully.
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“Once the system has not registered your vehicle, the plate cannot be issued. This prevents individuals from manufacturing or transferring plates for criminal purposes,” he said.
Mr. Srebour also addressed concerns from commercial motor and tricycle operators, confirming that amendments to the relevant transport laws have been completed and submitted to Parliament.
“We are waiting for Parliament to pass the amendments so that commercial motorcyclists, tricycle and quadricycle riders can be issued appropriate permits and plates to operate legally,” he added.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Samuel Stephen Okunor, Deputy Volta Regional Police Commander, described the new registration system as a major boost for law enforcement, particularly in responding to hit-and-run cases and vehicle-related crimes.
He noted that manual processes often delay investigations, but the computerised system will enable the Police to quickly identify vehicles and track their owners.
“In Europe and the US, the system is straightforward—you enter the registration number and everything appears. If a vehicle is stolen, it can be traced easily. This is a very good initiative for Ghana,” ACP Okunor said, urging the DVLA to provide the Police with the necessary devices to access the system efficiently.
Some drivers and motor riders who spoke to the media welcomed the planned reforms but appealed for consistent enforcement to eliminate fraudulent practices.
The stakeholder engagement brought together representatives of driver unions, motorcycle associations, the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD), and other security agencies.
