The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) is facing strong opposition from commercial drivers and transport unions following its renewed enforcement of delinquency fees for a range of traffic-related offenses.
In a public notice issued in June 2025, the DVLA announced a uniform penalty of GH¢225 for offenses including:
Expired driver’s licenses
Driving without a license
Faulty seat belts
Worn-out tyres
Excessive exhaust emissions
Expired roadworthy certificates
False or altered number plates
DVLA Director Neequaye Kotey defended the move, stressing that the penalties are not new but grounded in provisions approved by Parliament in 2012.
“We are simply enforcing existing laws that have long been ignored,” Mr. Kotey explained.
However, the Ghana Committed Drivers Association (GCDA) has strongly condemned the enforcement, describing it as unlawful and revenue-driven.
Speaking on the Happy Morning Show, GCDA Chairman Charles Danso argued that the DVLA is overstepping its mandate.
“The DVLA must come again. They have no legal right to impose or collect fines. That is the exclusive role of the courts,” he said.
Mr. Danso further alleged that the move is part of a strategy to cover financial shortfalls at the institution, rather than a genuine effort to improve road safety.
In protest, GCDA has petitioned several high-ranking government bodies, including the Minister of Transport, the Chief of Staff, the Attorney General, the Parliamentary Select Committee on Transport, and the National Road Safety Authority.
The Association is demanding:
1. Immediate suspension of the delinquency fee enforcement
2. Transparent refunds of all penalties collected since June 2025
