Scrap Protocols and Enforce Discipline – DVLA Boss Urges Transparent Road Safety Reforms

The Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), Julius Neequaye Kotey, has called for an end to preferential treatment and protocol arrangements within the authority’s operations, emphasizing that fairness, discipline, and transparency must guide road safety enforcement in Ghana.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, Mr. Kotey addressed growing public concerns surrounding the DVLA, including issues with roadside inspections, fines, and allegations of corruption. He acknowledged that the authority suffers from a poor public image and stressed the urgent need for reform.

“We recognise the public perception that DVLA is corrupt or dishonest. People think we’re thieves—and that must change,” he said.

Kotey emphasized that road safety enforcement is not designed to harass drivers but to save lives. He shared that he frequently receives calls from friends upset about being stopped by DVLA officers, but maintains that the rules must apply to everyone equally.

“My friends call to complain about being arrested, and I tell them, ‘My brother, it’s your life we are trying to save.’ Let’s all do what is right,” he explained.

The DVLA boss was firm in his stance against bending rules for individuals based on influence or connections. He compared issuing a licence to an unqualified driver to giving a weapon to a criminal. “If you can’t drive and I give you a licence, it’s like handing a gun to an armed robber to protect the community—you’ll cause more harm than good,” he stated.

He stressed that both unqualified drivers and poorly maintained vehicles are threats to public safety and urged DVLA staff to enforce the law without fear or favour.

Kotey also encouraged other institutions, especially in the health sector, to follow suit by eliminating unofficial favours that compromise standards. “We must do away with protocols. Let everyone go through the process,” he insisted.

Concluding his remarks, Mr. Kotey called on Ghanaians to embrace honesty and accountability as key values in building a safer, more responsible road culture. “We have to be frank with Ghana. What is wrong is wrong; what is right is right,” he said.