DVLA clears 444,000 driver’s licence backlog – Neequaye Kotey
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has printed more than 444,000 previously unprinted driver’s licence applications as part of efforts to clear a backlog that included applications dating as far back as 2023.
Chief Executive Officer of the DVLA, Julius Neequaye Kotey, said the authority introduced a 24-hour printing scheme at its printing facility to address the delays after he assumed office in January 2025.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series, Mr Neequaye Kotey said the intervention enabled the authority to print more than 444,000 driver’s licence applications by the end of 2025.
He explained that the backlog was one of the critical challenges confronting the authority when he took office, necessitating immediate measures to improve service delivery and ensure applicants received their licences without undue delays.
“We immediately introduced a 24-hour printing scheme at the print farm and by the end of 2025, printed more than 444,000 licence applications,” he said.
As part of further efforts to prevent a recurrence of the problem, the DVLA has also secured instant licence-printing machines to enable eligible applicants to obtain replacement licences immediately.
Mr Neequaye Kotey said the new arrangement would particularly benefit people whose licence records had been with the authority for at least six years and who needed replacements.
He stressed that the initiative would not compromise the authority’s licensing procedures, noting that applicants seeking new driver’s licences would still be required to complete the full application and testing process before their licences could be issued.
The reform, he explained, was intended to make the replacement process faster and more convenient while preventing the accumulation of fresh backlogs.
Beyond licence printing, the DVLA has introduced additional measures to improve the efficiency of its services.
These include the introduction of computer-based driving tests in six local languages—Twi, Ga, Ewe, Dagbani, Nzema and Hausa—to assist applicants who face language barriers when taking mandatory driving tests in English.
The authority has also introduced an SMS notification system to remind licence holders of their renewal dates, with messages sent one month and two weeks before expiry.
Mr Neequaye Kotey said work was ongoing to extend similar reminders to vehicle owners for roadworthiness certificate renewals.
The DVLA is also preparing to deploy a queue management system at its offices to reduce congestion and improve the speed at which customers are attended to.
The authority’s reforms form part of a broader programme to modernise driver licensing, improve customer experience and strengthen road safety in Ghana.
