The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) is set to intensify road enforcement operations across Ghana as it prepares to deploy compliance officers daily to remove unroadworthy vehicles from the country’s roads.
The move, which is expected to begin next week, forms part of efforts by the Authority to improve vehicle safety and reduce the risks posed to motorists, passengers and other road users by vehicles that fail to meet prescribed roadworthiness standards.
DVLA moves from limited checks to daily enforcement
DVLA Chief Executive Officer Julius Neequaye Kotey disclosed the planned enforcement during an interview on TV3’s Hot Issues on Sunday, August 16, 2026.
He said compliance officers would no longer operate under the previous limited enforcement schedule but would be on the roads every day to identify vehicles that do not meet safety requirements.
According to him, the intensified exercise is necessary because of the growing concerns surrounding vehicles operating on Ghanaian roads without meeting the required safety standards.
The enforcement is expected to target several aspects of vehicle safety, including tyres, brake pads and window tints.
Under the new enforcement approach, DVLA officers will inspect vehicles on the roads and take action against those found to be unsafe.
The Authority’s focus on roadworthiness comes amid continuing concerns about road crashes and the contribution of mechanically defective vehicles to road safety risks.
Mr Kotey urged the public to support the exercise, arguing that removing unsafe vehicles from Ghana’s roads is necessary to protect road users.
He expressed confidence that motorists would support the intervention as awareness grows about the dangers posed by unroadworthy vehicles.
Technology to help detect cloned vehicles
The DVLA is also expected to deploy available technology as part of the enforcement exercise.
According to the DVLA CEO, the technology will help officers identify suspected cloned vehicles and vehicles being used on Ghanaian roads without the required duties having been paid.
The move is expected to strengthen the Authority’s ability to identify vehicles that may have been improperly registered or are being operated outside the country’s regulatory requirements.
DVLA warns Private Vehicle Testing Stations
The Authority has also issued a strong warning to Private Vehicle Testing Stations (PVTS) against issuing roadworthiness certificates to vehicles that do not meet the required standards.
Mr Kotey said the DVLA would investigate testing stations where vehicles certified as roadworthy are later found to be unsafe for use on public roads.
He warned that testing stations found to have improperly certified unroadworthy vehicles could face sanctions, including closure.
The warning places additional responsibility on vehicle testing stations to ensure that inspections are conducted properly and that roadworthiness certificates are issued only to vehicles that genuinely meet safety requirements.
Motorists urged to ensure vehicles are roadworthy
With the daily enforcement exercise set to begin next week, motorists are expected to ensure that their vehicles comply with Ghana’s road safety and roadworthiness requirements.
The DVLA’s intensified operation could lead to increased checks on vehicles across the country as the Authority seeks to remove dangerous vehicles from public roads.
The initiative also signals a tougher enforcement approach against motorists, vehicle owners and testing stations that fail to comply with established vehicle safety regulations.
