The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) says it has not been consulted about the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority’s (DVLA) decision to phase out the practice of placing the year of manufacture at the end of number plates.
The DVLA has announced several reforms to Ghana’s vehicle registration system, including the rollout of new number plates and enhanced tracking technology.
According to the DVLA, beginning January 1, 2026, number plates will instead feature a regional code at the top and an area code at the end. The authority also stated that it will introduce new Dealer’s Permit (DP) stickers to ensure accountability and traceability of vehicles from the port.
However, Abass Imoro, the Industrial Relations Officer for GPRTU, revealed on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM’s Nyankonton Mu Nsem that the union was not consulted on the matter. He said the DVLA has justified its plans by stating that the new system is not meant to extort money from drivers but to improve the system.
“We want them to embark on intensified public education before implementing the new reforms. That is our call,” he stated. “They have to ensure that stakeholders understand the new system before implementation. There is a lack of understanding, so authorities must take their time.”
Mr Imoro asserted that the new system may create an opportunity for the DVLA to “extort” money from them. He said that in the past, the DVLA introduced new systems that ended up being avenues for collecting money from them.
“We have not been consulted. They have not provided any justification for any of these changes. As stakeholders, we have to be consulted before implementation. They cannot sideline us and expect the implementation to succeed. That is why we want them to engage us,” he stressed.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
