Kwasi Agyemang Busia addressing the media
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) of Ghana yesterday organized an outreach programme for drivers at the Abeka– Lapaz and Tema-Ashaiman highway stations in Accra.
The exercise saw a massive turnout of drivers (both commercial and private) who took advantage of the exercise to equip themselves on safe-driving techniques and best road usage practices.
The DVLA also used the workshop to renew the driving licenses of drivers who participated in the exercise.
Speaking to press men, manager of the Driver Testing Training and Licensing (DTTL) department of DVLA, Mr. Richard Lamptey, said the exercise aimed to renew the licenses of drivers and replace missing ones.
Some of the services that come with the exercise include issuance and renewal of licenses and upgrading of drivers’ licenses. Other services include conversion of foreign licenses and issuance of international driving permits for drivers who might be travelling outside Ghana in their private vehicles.
He added that the DVLA has also introduced the smart cards which are issued to drivers who have misplaced their licenses.
Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Concerned Drivers Association of Ghana (CDAG), Mr. David Agboado, said the exercise was a laudable initiative by the DVLA.
He said the introduction of the mobile licensing system would save them from extortion at the DVLA head office by some unscrupulous persons known as the “Goro Boys” who take huge sums of money from the drivers and issue fake licenses to them. He therefore urged all drivers to take full advantage of the exercise.
Mr. William Osei who is a driver and Chairman of CDAG commended the Akufo-Addo- led government for ensuring the smooth implementation of the exercise.
He asked drivers to make photocopies of their licenses and submit to the DVLA and then register with their respective station heads to benefit from the exercise.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of DVLA, Mr. Kwasi Agyemang Busia, was also present at the workshop. He said the exercise was aimed at providing mobile services to the drivers.
He mentioned that his team had been to the Kaneshie and 37 Military Hospital stations previously.
He explained that due to the nature of the work of the drivers, not all of them can have time to visit the DVLA office so after listening to several requests from the drivers, they decided to honour their request by carrying out this exercise.
Speaking on the “Goro Boys” issue, Mr. Busia said the activities of the “Goro Boys” had been mitigated. Licenses can now be issued within 30 minutes hence drivers would have no reasons to patronize the “Goro Boys”.
He urged drivers to continue working together with the DVLA and charged them to use legitimate means to obtain their driving licenses through the DVLA.
BY: Nii Adjei Mensahfio & Jireh Magdalene