By: Benjamin Nii Nai Anyetei
The Chief Executive Officer of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), Julius Neequaye Kotey, has announced major reforms in the country’s vehicle registration regime, including the introduction of new number plates and advanced tracking technology.
Speaking in an interview, Mr. Kotey explained that the reforms are designed to enhance accountability and traceability in Ghana’s transport system.
He said the newly introduced Dealer’s Permit (DP) stickers will allow the Authority to track vehicles right from the ports.
“The new DP sticker allows us to track who is driving the car, when it arrived in Ghana, its destination, and when the sticker expires. Once scanned, the code reveals all these details. It was wrong to have cars in the system without knowing their owners, but now, right from the port, we know who owns the vehicle,” he stated.
The DVLA boss clarified that while car dealers are expected to use DV stickers for vehicles kept in garages, individuals must register their vehicles within two weeks of purchase. Using DV plates for unauthorized purposes, such as casual driving or beyond sending a car for repairs, is a violation of the law.
Mr. Kotey further revealed that the Authority is considering introducing a special number plate for individuals who fail to register their vehicles within the required period. Such plates, he cautioned, will come at a “very expensive” cost.
As part of the new reforms, the DVLA will also discontinue the practice of displaying the year of manufacture on vehicle number plates. Beginning January 1, 2026, plates will instead feature a regional code at the top and an area code at the end.
“For instance, a plate will read GR 222 AD, with AD representing Adenta. We have completed all the legal groundwork and intend to roll this out on the first of January,” Mr. Kotey explained.
The new reforms, according to the DVLA, are expected to improve monitoring of vehicles nationwide and streamline the country’s registration processes.
Mr. Kotey made these remarks in an interview with an Accra based TV.
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