The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has completed the design and conceptual development of new Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)-enabled number plates, with a nationwide rollout expected in 2027, its Chief Executive Officer, Julius Neequaye Kotey, has announced. The new plates, which are currently undergoing pilot implementation in selected areas, are expected to modernise vehicle registration and strengthen security through real-time access to vehicle information, integration with electronic road tolling systems and improved law enforcement capabilities.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series held at the Jubilee House in Accra yesterday, Mr Kotey disclosed that the design was developed internally by DVLA staff, eliminating the need for external consultants and associated consultancy costs. He explained that the initiative was aimed at incorporating technology into the vehicle registration system to improve efficiency and provide easier access to vital vehicle information.
“The new number plate responds to the need to modernise vehicle registration with technology. It allows access to instant and real-time information, and enables integration for electronic road tolling as well. “The RFID technology provides the opportunity for vehicle number plates to carry information that will be useful for law enforcement in the event of crime,” he said.
Onboarding
Under the new system, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has decentralised the issuance of the new number plates to all its regional offices. The registration process involves capturing vehicle information in an electronic database, a mandatory step for vehicle owners seeking to obtain the new RFID-enabled plates.
The technology offers several benefits, including real-time ownership verification and enabling law enforcement officers and other authorised personnel to access vehicle details instantly. It is also designed to integrate with electronic road tolling systems, potentially improving traffic management on major highways.
The new system will further introduce a distinct identification mechanism to differentiate private vehicles from commercial ones, as well as commercial motorcycles, commonly known as Okada, from privately used motorcycles.` Once the system is fully rolled out, vehicle owners will be able to obtain the new plates from any DVLA regional office, eliminating the bottlenecks previously associated with accessing the service at the head office.
The acting Chief Executive Officer said a nationwide public sensitisation campaign had commenced to educate vehicle owners and the general public about the new system ahead of its full implementation in 2027.
Revenue recovery
Mr. Kotey stated that the authority has successfully sealed a significant revenue leak in the sale and distribution of DP plates at the ports by replacing aluminum plates with paper-proof digital stickers. As a result, the monthly issuance of DP stickers at the ports increased from an average of 1,800 to over 15,000 by October 2025. Consequently, revenue from DP stickers rose from GH¢15 million for the entire year of 2024 to over GH¢27 million between January and September 2026.
In a related development, the authority renegotiated expensive Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for roadworthy certificates. Agreements that would have cost $155.4 million over three years were reduced to GH¢2 million for the same period, resulting in annual savings of approximately $50 million. “The authority posted a surplus of GH¢25 million after closing its accounts for the 2025 financial year, compared to GH¢5 million in 2024,” the CEO added.
For the first time since becoming semi-autonomous in 2016, the DVLA contributed GH¢17.7 million to the Consolidated Fund in 2025, in addition to a record GH¢80.4 million contribution to the Road Fund, as required under the Road Fund Act of 1997, Act 536. This brings the authority’s total contribution to the Mandatory Fund to GH¢98.1 million.
Expansion
The DVLA has also expanded its nationwide network of offices from 33 to 63 within two years. The expansion includes 12 newly established DVLA-owned offices and 18 Ultra Centres set up in partnership with the private sector. As part of efforts to improve service delivery, the authority has introduced 24-hour services at selected offices, where more than 444,000 licences had been printed by the end of 2025.
Other digital initiatives include the integration of six local languages into the Computer-Based Test (CBT) platform, the introduction of SMS reminders for licence renewals, an electronic library featuring driver refresher videos, and plans to implement a queue management system.
The authority is also introducing a demerit points system for licence holders. Under the proposed arrangement, drivers who exceed the permitted threshold for traffic offences will have their licences revoked and be required to undergo retraining and recertification before they can resume driving.
In addition, the DVLA has begun registering excavators at the ports in collaboration with the Minerals Commission, with more than 7,700 excavators registered so far. The authority has also impounded 357 vehicles and handed them over to the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) for failing to pay the required customs duties. The action followed the deployment of On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) devices to identify cloned vehicles and those that had not been properly cleared through customs.
