Story By: Muhammed Faisel Mustapha / Felix Ernest Odamtten…..
Ghana’s Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) is preparing to decentralise the printing of driver’s licence cards across its offices nationwide, a major service delivery reform expected to significantly reduce delays and allow motorists to obtain their licences much faster.
The initiative forms part of a broader effort by the Authority to modernise its operations, bring essential services closer to motorists and address longstanding complaints over lengthy waiting periods for the production and collection of driver’s licence cards.
Chief Executive Officer of the DVLA, Mr Julius Neequaye Kotey, disclosed that the Authority currently operates a largely centralised printing arrangement from its head office, where only two machines serve applicants across the country.
Under the proposed decentralised system, individual DVLA stations will be equipped to print driver’s licence cards locally, potentially allowing applicants to receive their cards almost immediately after completing the required procedures.
“We are doing decentralisation. Every station will now print its own card so that card printing will be everywhere,” Mr Kotey said, describing the reform as a significant shift in the Authority’s approach to customer service.
He made the disclosure during the commissioning of a new DVLA Ultra Centre at Amrahia in the Adentan Constituency of the Greater Accra Region, where he outlined the Authority’s plans to transform the experience of motorists and other road users.
Mr Kotey said the reform was designed to eliminate situations in which applicants are forced to wait for months before receiving their licence cards, stressing that the move towards near instant printing would improve efficiency and customer confidence in the DVLA.
According to the DVLA CEO, final testing of the new printing system was underway, with a transitional period expected between October and December before nationwide implementation begins in January.
The decentralisation programme could represent a major operational transformation for the Authority, particularly as demand for driver licensing services continues to grow alongside Ghana’s expanding vehicle population and urbanisation.
Beyond licence printing, Mr Kotey used the occasion to clarify the distinction between private and commercial driving licences, explaining that the classification is governed by the relevant legal and regulatory framework.
He explained that a holder of a commercial driving licence is permitted to operate a private vehicle, whereas a person holding only a private driving licence is not authorised to drive a commercial vehicle.
The distinction, he noted, is important because commercial driving is subject to additional requirements, including different age thresholds and other conditions designed to ensure that individuals operating vehicles for commercial purposes meet the appropriate standards.
Mr Kotey also used the commissioning ceremony to draw attention to vehicle roadworthiness and the role of regular inspections in preventing crashes associated with mechanical defects.
He warned that faults such as defective braking systems can have serious consequences when vehicles are not properly maintained, arguing that road safety cannot depend solely on road construction, traffic management and street lighting.
The DVLA CEO urged commercial vehicle operators to subject their vehicles to inspection every six months, while private vehicle owners should undertake inspections at least once every year.
“If you are a commercial driver, every six months go there to check whether your car has mechanical issues. When you are a private driver, you go there every year to check once in a year whether the car doesn’t have any issue that can worry you tomorrow or the next,” he said.
Mr Kotey stressed that preventing mechanical failures was an important component of Ghana’s road safety agenda, warning that avoidable defects could place passengers, drivers, pedestrians and other road users at unnecessary risk.
Member of Parliament for Adentan, Mohammed Adamu Ramadan, welcomed the establishment of the new facility and commended the DVLA leadership for bringing additional services closer to residents of the constituency.
Hon. Ramadan observed that the constituency was fortunate to have the current DVLA Chief Executive in office, noting that the Amrahia facility represented the second DVLA centre established within Adentan following the earlier facility around Ritz Junction between Madina and Adenta.
He said the geographical spread of the constituency made decentralised public services particularly important, adding that the Amrahia centre would improve access for residents in the surrounding communities, including areas towards Oyibi and Katamanso.
The M.P expressed hope that the Authority would eventually establish another facility closer to the middle of Adentan to ensure that residents across the constituency could access DVLA services without travelling long distances.
Hon. Ramadan also commended the DVLA for creating employment opportunities through the establishment of its centres, particularly for young people in the surrounding communities, and expressed appreciation for the Authority’s willingness to engage local residents.
The manager of the newly commissioned Ultra Centre described the facility as more than an additional DVLA office, saying it represented an opportunity to bring public services closer to residents while contributing to local employment and economic activity. He expressed gratitude to Dr Solomon Anan, his family and the start up team for their support in establishing the centre.
He said the long term success of the facility would depend on the dedication of its staff, cooperation from the community and patience from customers, urging all stakeholders to work together to build a reliable and efficient service centre.
As Ghana moves towards January implementation of decentralised licence printing, the DVLA faces the challenge of ensuring that the reform delivers consistently across the country. If successfully implemented, the initiative could mark a decisive break from the delays associated with centralised card production and provide motorists with faster, more accessible and customer focused licensing services.