Sunday, 23 August 2026

Ghana’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026

Sunday, 23 August 2026

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Ghanaian press · Organization

DVLA

Also known as: Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority — Ghana's licensing body managing driver licenses, vehicle registration, and road safety enforcement, currently implementing decentralization and system reforms.

2026-04-242026-08-23

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

April 2026
28 AprJoy Online
… He’s currently serving as the Chairman of the Governing Board of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority
Ghana’s AI Strategy is more than a policy, it is a declaration of digital sovereignty
28 AprDaily Guide
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has announced the recall and replacement of a batch of 2026 vehicle number plates after routine checks revealed quality defects that caused some plates to fade prematurely. …
DVLA Recalls Defective 2026 Number Plates
27 AprThe Ghanaian Times
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has announced plans to replace a batch of 2026 vehicle number plates found fading. …
DVLA to replace fading 2026 number plates free of charge
27 AprJoy Online
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has announced plans to replace a batch of 2026 embossed number plates after discovering a defect that causes the characters to fade. …
DVLA to replace defective 2026 embossed number plates free of charge over fading issue
24 AprBusiness & Financial Times
… DVLA registers converted vehicles without enhanced inspection (contrary to L.I. 2180). …
Motoring with Bob Roco ROMEO: Toyota Voxy: A ban?

Politics

Public sector audit irregularities nearly doubled in 2024 to GH¢18.4 billion

The News

Ghana's public boards, corporations and statutory institutions recorded a 109.3 per cent surge in financial irregularities in 2024, climbing from GH¢8.8 billion to GH¢18.4 billion, according to the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition's State of Corruption Report, which attributes the spike to weak expenditure controls. Meanwhile, irregularities within Ministries, Departments and Agencies and District Assemblies declined, though certain categories of irregularities within MDAs—cash, debtor, loan, payroll, procurement and rent-related—surged sharply.

22 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Yesterday

Public sector audit irregularities nearly doubled in 2024 to GH¢18.4 billion
Ghana's public boards, corporations and statutory institutions recorded a 109.3 per cent surge in financial irregularities in 2024, climbing from GH¢8.8 billion to GH¢18.4 billion, according to the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition's State of Corruption Report, which attributes the spike to weak expenditure controls. Meanwhile, irregularities within Ministries, Departments and Agencies and District Assemblies declined, though certain categories of irregularities within MDAs—cash, debtor, loan, payroll, procurement and rent-related—surged sharply.
22 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Friday 21 August

DVLA to decentralise driver's licence printing nationwide
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority has announced plans to decentralise driver's licence printing to its offices across the country to reduce delays, which have stretched to several months or up to a year under the current centralised system. Instant printing will initially apply only to replacement cards, while new licence applications will still require the mandatory three-month licensing process.
21 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Thursday 20 August

Vice President calls for fairer tax system to boost compliance
Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has called for a simpler and fairer tax system that encourages individuals and businesses to fulfil their tax obligations, saying taxpayers are more likely to comply when they understand the rules, receive good service, and trust public funds are used responsibly. The government is reforming the tax system to reduce the burden on households and businesses while mobilising revenue for national development, including abolishing some burdensome taxes and introducing changes to the VAT system through the Value Added Tax Act, 2025.
20 August 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
Chief of Staff urges stronger collaboration to reduce motorcycle road deaths
The Chief of Staff Dr Julius Debrah has called for stronger collaboration among government agencies and road safety stakeholders to promote responsible motorcycle use and reduce road fatalities, noting that 1,345 people lost their lives in road crashes in Ghana in 2025 and motorcycles account for about 35 per cent of road deaths across Africa.
20 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Wednesday 19 August

Ghana records 2,949 road deaths in 2025, highest in 35 years
The National Road Safety Authority reported 2,949 road crash deaths in 2025, an 18.2% increase over 2024 and the highest toll in 35 years. Heavy-duty vehicles including fuel tankers, dump trucks, and trailers are central to the crisis, with Ghana's fatality rate of nearly 26 deaths per 100,000 people exceeding both WHO African regional and global averages.
19 August 2026 · Joy Online →
Ghana road accidents claimed 1,009 lives in first four months 2026
Ghana is facing a mounting road accident crisis, with 4,899 crashes causing 1,009 deaths and 5,982 injuries between January and April 2026. The DVLA board chairman identifies poor road infrastructure, inadequate safety features, and corruption in enforcement as contributing factors.
19 August 2026 · The Chronicle →

Tuesday 18 August

DVLA opens 25th district office in Asuogyaman, fights fraud
A new Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority office has been commissioned in Asuogyaman District to bring licensing services closer to residents and curb fraudulent documents. The facility is the 25th of 40 district offices being established nationwide under the DVLA's decentralisation programme.
18 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Monday 17 August

Ghana's road crashes kill thousands; need urgent national action
Ghana recorded 14,743 road traffic crashes in 2025, resulting in 2,949 deaths and 16,714 injuries, with the crisis continuing in early 2026 when 4,899 crashes between January and April claimed 1,009 lives and injured 5,982 people. The DVLA board chairman attributes the problem to poor road infrastructure, inadequate maintenance and safety features, and corruption in enforcement institutions.
17 August 2026 · Joy Online →
Asutifi North MP, DVLA offer subsidised driver licensing
The Member of Parliament for Asutifi North Constituency, Ebenezer Kwaku Addo, in partnership with the DVLA, will assist commercial drivers and riders in the district to obtain driver's licences and vehicle registration at a subsidised price, with the MP personally covering the subsidy. The initiative aims to promote road safety and compliance with traffic regulations, and will be held in Ntotroso on 26 August 2026 and Kenyasi on 27 August 2026.
17 August 2026 · Daily Guide →

Sunday 16 August

Ghana's new road traffic law creates separate commercial driver licenses
Ghana's new road traffic regulations introduce separate licensing regimes for private and commercial drivers, moving away from a single license system. The National Road Safety Authority says the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority will issue distinct licenses for private drivers, commercial drivers, and commercial motorcycle riders, with training requirements emphasizing skills like customer service and passenger/goods transport obligations.
16 August 2026 · Joy Online →
Ghana must declare road deaths a public health emergency
Appiah Kusi Adomako, director of the West Africa Regional Centre of CUTS International, has called for Ghana to move beyond enforcement alone to tackle road fatalities, arguing the country should declare road crashes a public health emergency given that over 2,500 people died on Ghanaian roads last year—roughly eight daily—warranting national urgency comparable to the COVID-19 response.
16 August 2026 · Joy Online →
Kusi Adomako urges Ghana to declare road crashes public health emergency
The Director of CUTS International's West Africa Regional Centre has called on the government to treat road crashes as a public health emergency, citing more than 2,500 deaths last year and an average of eight daily fatalities that warrant the same urgent response applied to COVID-19.
16 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Wednesday 12 August

CUTS calls DVLA to justify and suspend escalating licence renewal fees
Think tank CUTS International has urged the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority to suspend automatic escalating "delinquency" charges for expired licence renewals and replacements, citing lack of clear legal basis and transparency for the charges, which range from GH¢127.00 for on-time renewal to GH¢404.25 for renewals beyond four years late.
12 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Monday 10 August

CUTS demands DVLA suspend escalating delinquency charges
CUTS International, a public policy think tank, is calling on the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority to suspend and justify escalating "delinquency" charges imposed on people who renew or replace an expired driver's licence, pending full public disclosure of the legal basis, approval process and calculation of the charges.
10 August 2026 · The Chronicle →

Saturday 8 August

CUTS challenges DVLA's escalating delinquency charges on expired licences
CUTS International is calling on the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority to suspend its escalating delinquency charges on expired driver's licences and publicly establish the legal authority and formula used to determine the fees, arguing the charges lack clear backing in the Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 and could unfairly penalise motorists.
8 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Wednesday 5 August

DVLA to legalise temporary celebratory vehicle plate messages
Ghana's Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority will introduce a system allowing motorists to legally display temporary celebratory messages such as "Just Married" and "Called to the Bar" on their vehicles for a limited period, replacing the current unauthorised practice of writing such messages on number plates.
5 August 2026 · Joy Online →
DVLA launches six-month temporary sticker for unregistered imported vehicles
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority will introduce a six-month temporary sticker for newly imported vehicles not yet registered, aimed at tightening compliance with registration laws. The non-renewable sticker will display vehicle type, colour, and expiry date, and will be implemented starting with a pilot in August.
5 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Tuesday 4 August

DVLA breaks ground on new office at Bechem in Ahafo
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority has begun construction of a permanent, ultra-modern office facility at Bechem in the Ahafo Region, which will include an operational office and banking hall to improve access to DVLA services. The Bechem Traditional Council donated the land for the project free of charge.
4 August 2026 · Joy Online →
DVLA pilots RFID-enabled number plates in August 2026
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority is rolling out a new digital vehicle number plate system with embedded Radio Frequency Identification chips and Ghana Card integration, beginning with a pilot phase on government vehicles in August 2026, followed by a mandatory nationwide rollout in January 2027. The system aims to create a more credible vehicle registration database, prevent registration of stolen and uncustomed vehicles, and align Ghana with international best practices.
4 August 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
DVLA pilots electronic number plate system ahead of January 2027 rollout
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority will begin piloting a new electronic number plate system this month, with nationwide implementation to commence in January 2027, according to the agency's CEO. The rollout had been delayed by a court case and the time needed to secure parliamentary approval and Cabinet clearance for the system.
4 August 2026 · Joy Online →
DVLA to link vehicle registration numbers to owners permanently
Ghana's DVLA will reform its vehicle registration system so that registration numbers are tied to vehicle owners rather than vehicles, requiring new owners to obtain fresh registration numbers when they purchase vehicles. The reform aims to improve traceability of vehicle ownership and prevent former owners from being held responsible for offences committed after they have sold their vehicles.
4 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Monday 3 August

DVLA to provide free replacements for faded 2026 number plates
The Chief Executive Officer of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority has acknowledged complaints about fading 2026 vehicle number plates and announced affected vehicle owners will receive free replacements. The fading was caused by production challenges after 159 of 160 contracted embossing companies suspended services in January 2026 over a contract dispute, leaving only one company to produce plates for the entire country.
3 August 2026 · Joy Online →
Ghana's used-vehicle import reforms necessary but require policy refinement
Ghana's Standards Authority will enforce Pre-Export Verification of Conformity for used vehicles from October 2026, rejecting those over 10 years old or with major structural damage. While the policy aims to improve vehicle safety and transparency, an editorial argues that age-based restrictions alone are insufficient without broader reforms including affordability, financing, taxation, and consumer education.
3 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Friday 31 July

Ghana blocks flood-damaged, burnt vehicles from October 2026
Ghana's Standards Authority will enforce Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVoC) for vehicle imports from October 1, 2026, requiring all used vehicles to comply with national standard GS 4510 before shipment. The programme will prohibit importation of vehicles with major structural damage (flood-submerged, fire-damaged, twisted chassis), right-hand-drive vehicles, assembled vehicles, and those over 10 years old, aiming to prevent substandard vehicles and improve road safety.
31 July 2026 · Joy Online →
AVSF warns of surge in road crashes affecting nearly 90 people weekly
The Accident Victims Support Foundation has raised concerns over an increase in road traffic crashes across Ghana, reporting that nearly 90 people have been affected by road accidents within the past week. The Foundation cited recent incidents including crashes at Bukom, Nkenkensu and Shiashie, and called for stronger road safety measures and coordinated action from state institutions, transport operators and road users.
31 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Monday 27 July

Lawyer sues DVLA, NIC over Toyota Voxy registration and licensing
A road safety advocate has filed a lawsuit at an Accra High Court against the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority and the National Insurance Company over the registration, licensing, and insuring of Toyota Voxy vehicles in Ghana, citing rising fatality rates and safety concerns that prompted the National Road Safety Authority to investigate the vehicles.
27 July 2026 · The Chronicle →

Friday 24 July

DVLA to pilot digital registration system in August 2026
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority will begin piloting a new digital vehicle registration system in August 2026, with full rollout scheduled for January 1, 2027. The system aims to eliminate illegal number plate cloning and improve vehicle identification for law enforcement agencies.
24 July 2026 · Joy Online →
DVLA expands access to reduce reliance on intermediaries
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority says it is working to reduce public reliance on intermediaries known as "Goro Boys" by expanding access to its services across the country. The DVLA CEO stated the approach is to regulate these intermediaries while improving direct access to DVLA services, as many customers resort to them because of distance and cost barriers to official offices.
24 July 2026 · Joy Online →
DVLA's new inspection technology detects over 130 suspected cloned cars
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority says its newly introduced vehicle inspection technology has detected and seized more than 130 vehicles suspected to be cloned or linked to duty evasion. The DVLA CEO said the cloning detection machines verify authenticity of vehicle chassis numbers and trace vehicle history to tackle fraudulent activities in vehicle registration.
24 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Wednesday 22 July

MoMo and GhIPSS digitise informal transport payments campaign
MobileMoney Fintech LTD has launched the Ride with MoMo campaign in partnership with Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems to transition commercial drivers from cash to digital payment practices via the MoMo Merchant Wallet and GhQR platform. The campaign aims to help drivers formalise their businesses, keep proper records, and build transaction histories for future access to financial services.
22 July 2026 · Joy Online →