By Florence Afriyie Mensah
Akyawkrom (Ash), Aug 28, GNA – The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has been charged with developing an integrated, efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable transport management and registration system that is responsive to the needs of society.
It must do so by changing from the traditional way of doing things and ensuring the harmonization and standardization of systems and procedures in line with regional and global development trends.
Madam Dorcas Affo-Toffey, Deputy Minister of Transport, who made the call, said “it is our responsibility as industry practitioners and experts in our respective fields to ensure that the services we provide benefit everyone.
The role of the DVLA is crucial to ensuring that the vehicles on our roads are roadworthy and that the drivers who drive them are qualified.
It is, therefore, important that the DVLA strengthen its collaboration with the National Road Safety Authority, the Motor Traffic and Transport Department of the Ghana Police Services, and all other stakeholders who operate within the road environment”, she pointed out.
The Deputy Minister was speaking at the opening of the 2025 DVLA Mid-Year Review at Akyawkrom in the Ashanti Region.
The five-day programme is being held on the theme “Resetting DVLA for an Efficient and Effective 24- Hour Operation”.
Madam Affo-Toffey hinted that, the Ministry was taking steps for Ghana to accede to the United Nations Conventions, which would improve road safety regulations, such as the Road Traffic Act, 2004 (Act 683) and the Road Traffic Regulations.
This will help create jobs, especially for drivers as Ghana’s standards would align with international best practices, she explained, and urged the DVLA to consider these instruments to standardize their systems and procedures in line with the regional and global developments.
Touching on the government’s 24-Hour Economy policy, she said the Ministry was committed to the full implementation and had therefore, set in motion plans to enhance the governance and regulatory frameworks to empower agencies under the Ministry to fulfill their respective mandates effectively.
Mr Foster Akwasi Asante, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, DVLA said it remained resilient, innovative and fully equipped to deliver on its mandate – running 24-hour services across their offices.
The DVLA had institutionalized operational efficiency, printed a backlog of license applications some of which date as far back as January 2024 and it was now in current in printing.
Mr Asante said the Authority had expanded the taskforce of the Authority to enforce the laws governing DVLA with the aim of ensuring compliance among drivers and vehicle users with the view to reducing road traffic accidents.
The Authority had also worked with the Minerals Commission in building an integrated system that enabled the tracking of mining equipment imported into the country and ensured ownership was known for the purposes of punishing those who would allow their equipment such as excavators into illegal mining activities.
Mr George Spencer Quaye, DVLA Board Chairman charged the management of the Authority to work hard and open offices operating the 24-hour shift.
They should work hard to improve transparency, accountability and efficiency in the operations.
GNA
Edited by Kwabia Owusu-Mensah/George-Ramsey Benamba