The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has announced a review of its plan to extend licensing services to Ghanaians living abroad, following public criticism of the potential use of state resources to deploy staff abroad.
In a statement on Wednesday, February 26, the Authority said it had taken note of public concerns and was exploring alternative ways to make its services accessible to citizens.
“In view of these sentiments, management is reviewing the proposed approach and exploring alternative options to ensure that our services remain accessible to all Ghanaians, including those residing outside the country,” the statement said.
The concerns follow remarks made by DVLA Chief Executive, Julius Neequaye Kotey, on Tuesday, February 25, during the commissioning of a new DVLA office in Bantama, Kumasi.
He reportedly told staff that they would travel to provide licensing services in countries including the United States, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.
In a follow-up statement on Thursday, February 26, DVLA clarified that it has entered into an arrangement with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to collaborate with Ghana’s embassies in selected countries to provide specific services to qualified Ghanaian citizens living abroad.
The Authority explained that under the implementation plan, embassy staff will be trained to verify applicants’ documents and forward them to the DVLA in Ghana for processing.
Full Statement
The statement read as follows: “The Management of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has taken note of the public reactions following the announcement 0 our intention to extend selected services to Ghanaians living abroad. We appreciate the feedback and the concerns expressed by members of the public.
“In view of these sentiments, Management is reviewing the proposed approach and exploring alternative options to ensure that our services remain accessible to all Ghanaians, including those residing outside the country.
“We assure the public that the Authority remains committed to the collective interest of the Ghanaian people and continues to work diligently to enhance our service delivery for everyone.”
DVLA
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) is a public-sector institution under the Ministry of Transport. It was established in 1999 by the DVLA Act 1999 (569) of the Ministry of Transport and Communication. DVLA replaced the erstwhile Vehicle Examination and Licensing Division (VELD).
Its key stakeholders are the Ghana National Association of Garages, Private Road Transport Providers, the National Insurance Commission, Registered Driver Training Schools, the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Registered Motor Vehicle and Manufacturing Companies/Ghana Automobile Distributors Association, the Motor Traffic and Transport Department, and the Motoring public.
The mandate of DVLA is to promote good driving standards in the country and to ensure the use of roadworthy vehicles on the roads and other public places. This mandate is essential in safeguarding lives, reducing road accidents, and building public trust in the country’s transport system.
The DVLA Act 569, 1999 spells out the functions of the Authority as follows: Establish standards and methods for the training and testing of driving instructors and drivers of motor vehicles and riders of motorcycles, establish standards and methods for the training and testing of vehicle examiners, provide syllabi for driver training and the training of instructors, and issue driving licenses.
The other functions are to register and license driving schools and driving instructors, inspect and test motor vehicles, issue vehicle registration certificates, issue vehicle examination certificates, license and regulate private garages to conduct vehicle testing.
The remaining functions of DVLA are to maintain registers containing particulars of licensed motor vehicles, driving instructors, driving schools, and drivers of motor vehicles, devise the Minister on policy formulation and development strategy for the achievement of the object of the Authority, ensure strict compliance with this Act and regulations made under it and carry out such other functions as are incidental to the attainment of the object of the Authority.
