Ghana’s Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) is launching a major technological crackdown on unsafe transport, announcing that Private Vehicle Testing Stations (PVTS) must soon provide real-time video coverage of every vehicle inspection before a roadworthiness certificate can be issued.
The sweeping policy shift targets illegal practices and regulatory loopholes that have long allowed mechanically unfit commercial and private vehicles to legally secure safety clearance and operate on public roads.
Unveiling the directive during the launch of the DVLA’s new Ultra Centre at the Tema Port enclave, Chief Executive Officer Julius Neequaye Kotey highlighted that the current system depends heavily on paperwork submitted by third-party testing centers a vulnerability the new requirement seeks to eliminate.
“From next year, any Private Vehicle Testing Station that gives us the go-ahead to issue a roadworthy certificate to a vehicle will also be required to have a video system that allows DVLA to see the vehicle being inspected before the certificate is issued,” Kotey declared.
He explained that visual proof of actual physical testing will give state regulators direct oversight and restore integrity to the national certification process.
“The arrangement will strengthen the Authority’s ability to monitor vehicles presented for inspection and address concerns over visibly unroadworthy vehicles being allowed on Ghana’s roads,” Kotey added.
The announcement coincided with the opening of the state-of-the-art Tema Port Ultra Centre, designed to streamline licensing, driver registration, and specialized services including the registration of heavy machinery and excavators entering the country through the port.
To support high-volume maritime commerce, Kotey revealed plans to significantly expand the facility’s hours of operation once security measures are finalized.
“The Authority is working towards extended and eventually 24-hour operations at the facility, subject to adequate security,” Kotey said.
The video mandate represents the latest push by the DVLA to leverage digital surveillance to curb traffic accidents, enforce strict vehicle maintenance standards, and eliminate fraudulent roadworthy clearances across Ghana.
