By Benjamin Akoto, GNA
Sunyani (Bono), Sept. 16, GNA – Mr Julius Neequaye Kotey, the Chief Executive Officer of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), has for stakeholder support for the successful implementation of the new license plate regime.
He said the regime was a game changer and a significant turnaround in the nation’s vehicle identification system, aimed at improving road safety and security.
Mr Kotey made the call when speaking at the 2026 mid-review conference on the DVLA in Sunyani on the theme: “Transforming DVLA for a digitally driven and efficient 24-hour service culture”.
He announced that a sod-cutting ceremony had already been held for the construction of a new number plate manufacturing centre at the DVLA’s Narhman office.
Mr Kotey said that the Authority remained committed to taking control of the manufacturing and embossment of the new license plates to prevent the infiltration of fake vehicle number plates.
He said the infiltration of fake vehicle number plates undermined the purpose of the new regime and lauded the implementation of the new Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)-enabled number plates.
Mr Kotey said that the enactment of the Road Traffic Regulations, 2026 (L.I. 2519), which repealed L.I. 2180, provided the legal framework for the new number plate regime.
The Regulations 10 to 22 of the new LI provided for the various types of number plates to be introduced from January 2027, he stated.
Mr Kotey said the DVLA had commenced public education to sensitize the masses on the new number plates, their features, and the various categories.
He explained that: “Cloning detectors deployed by the Authority have helped impound about 230 vehicles within three months of implementation”.
Mr Kotey said the exercise had exposed vehicles that were operating in the system without the required duties being paid.
The DVLA would therefore subject every vehicle to verification before assigning a new number plate during the transition to the new regime.
Mr Kotey said the Authority had also intensified enforcement to weed out fake and DV-inspired number plates, saying that about 30,000 vehicle number plates had been seized.
Mr George Okyere, the Bono Regional Manager of the DVLA, said the transport sector remained the backbone of the economy saying that the DVLA’s responsibilities affected everyone, from drivers and fleet owners to ordinary citizens seeking driver’s licenses and vehicle registration.
“Our efficiency directly impacts national development, road safety and the trust of citizens,” he added.
GNA
Edited by Dennis Peprah/Linda Asante Agyei
Reporter: Benjamin Akoto
[email protected]