DVLA poorly executing core mandates, fuelling road crashes – Policy Analyst

Engineer and policy analyst Kosi Dedey has criticised the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) for what he describes as its failure to properly train drivers and ensure vehicle roadworthiness, contributing to Ghana’s rising road accidents.

Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show, on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, Mr. Dedey said the DVLA’s two core mandates – determining who is qualified to drive and which vehicles are fit for the road – are being poorly executed.

“In terms of driver training and assessment, it is very minimal. You talk to people who have held a driver’s licence for years, and they do not know simple lane markings. Not many drivers are even aware of LI 2180, the road regulation in Ghana. So, what are we teaching people in the driving schools?” he asked.

On vehicle inspection, Mr. Dedey said reforms introduced in 2012 to allow private facilities to handle inspections have failed to improve safety. “It costs not less than $100,000 to set up a single inspection lane, yet DVLA regulates the charges these facilities can take. Most of them no longer test vehicles – they simply collect DVLA forms, stamp them, and issue stickers,” he alleged.

He argued that the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) often intervenes too late, likening its role to “coming in after the horses have bolted.”

“The NRSA only plays a catch-up role because we are releasing more and more unqualified people onto our roads as drivers,” Mr. Dedey stressed.