The Chief Executive Officer of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), Mr. Julius Neequaye Kotey, has cut the sod for the construction of a permanent DVLA office in Bole to serve the Savannah Region.
The ceremony, held on Thursday, 16th July 2026, brought together traditional authorities, government officials and key stakeholders, including representatives of the Bolewura,representatives of the Member of Parliament for Bole-Bamboi, officials of the DVLA, and members of the public.
Speaking during the ceremony, the Director in Charge of Vehicle Research and Registration at the DVLA, Mr. Akwesi Bonah, explained the Authority’s new vehicle registration and number plate system aimed at strengthening security and curbing criminal activities involving vehicles.
According to him, the current system has made it difficult to identify stolen vehicles and has created challenges for law enforcement agencies. He noted that many vehicle owners seek to obtain newer registration numbers to make their vehicles appear recently purchased, while others illegally manufacture fake number plates to commit crimes without the knowledge of the DVLA.
Mr. Bonah disclosed that the Authority estimates that more than 90 percent of vehicles currently operating with unauthorized number plates are using fake registrations. To address the challenge, he said the DVLA has introduced a secure number plate system produced exclusively by the Authority.
Under the new arrangement, each number plate will carry the verified details of its owner and will be licensed to an individual rather than to the vehicle, making it easier to trace ownership and combat vehicle-related crime.
Delivering the keynote address, the Executive Director, Mr. Julius Neequaye Kotey, described Bole as a historic commercial centre and an important gateway linking northern and southern Ghana. He said the growing number of drivers, transport operators and vehicle owners in the area necessitated the establishment of a permanent DVLA office.
He explained that although the Authority recently opened a temporary office in a rented facility to bring services closer to residents, the long-term vision had always been to construct a permanent office to provide comprehensive DVLA services, including driver licensing, vehicle registration, roadworthiness certification and other related services.
Mr. Kotey stated that the project forms part of the DVLA’s nationwide infrastructure expansion programme under the Government’s Reset Agenda, which seeks to strengthen public institutions and improve access to government services across the country.
He assured the people of Bole and the Savannah Region that the new office would eliminate the need for residents to travel long distances to access DVLA services, adding that the Authority is committed to delivering the same quality of service available in Accra.
The Executive Director stressed that the sod-cutting ceremony marked only the beginning of the project and pledged that the construction would be closely monitored to ensure it is completed on schedule, within budget and according to approved specifications.
Mr. Kotey expressed gratitude to the Member of Parliament for Bole-Bamboi, Hon. Yussif Sulemana Ori, the Bolewura, traditional leaders, the District Assembly, construction partners and the management and staff of the DVLA for their support in making the project possible.
He further disclosed that construction of the permanent office is expected to be completed within one year. He noted that the Bole office becomes the 22nd DVLA office established nationwide, with six more offices currently planned as part of the Authority’s target of expanding to 40 offices across Ghana.
According to Mr. Kotey, the expansion programme is intended to eliminate the activities of middlemen, popularly known as “goro boys,” by making DVLA services more accessible, transparent and efficient. He assured residents that once the facility is completed, the Authority will immediately commence full operations to better serve the people of the Savannah Region.
Source: kashafmonline.com
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