Successes chalked up by Driver And Vehicle Licensing Authority, DVLA

NEWS COMMENTARY ON QUALITY SERVICES RENDERED TO THE PUBLIC BY DVLA.

At the beginning of every year, new vehicle owners and others rush to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority, DVLA, to register their cars. Though some of them purchase their vehicles early enough to be able to register them in the same year they wait till the new year for the registration. This year is not an exception. From the second of this month, staff of DVLA have been busy assisting vehicle owners to go through the registration processes. The quality services rendered to the public has attracted commendations from clients. This has been the case since the current management led by the CEO, Kwasi Agyeman Busia took over three years ago.

DVLA which will be celebrating its 21st anniversary since it was redesignated from Vehicle Examination and Licensing Division, VELD, in 1999 under the Ministry of Transport until three years ago was always in the news for bad reasons. It was perceived to be one of the corrupt institutions in the country and it was the first choice for most graduates looking for jobs. The reason was simply because they could amass wealth through whichever means to be ahead of their colleagues who had employment elsewhere. The cumbersome processes of drivers’ license, renewal and registration of vehicles forced most people to go through middlemen otherwise known as goro boys and girls paying exorbitant fees.

Some of them in the process lost their documents while others were given fake ones. This was the case until three years ago when the current management took over and embarked on initiatives to eliminate the cumbersome processes in acquiring documents from the Authority. It started with the Issuance of Smart Driver’s License which has secure and enhance features to ensure the security and durability of the license.

Previously, a third party was printing the cards but with the smart one, the printing is done by the Authority. Prior to 2017, it took an average of three to nine months for a valid driver’s license to be produced by DVLA. After a careful review of the process, the Authority is now producing license in shorter duration. One month for Standard, two weeks for Premium and 30 minutes for Prestige applicants.

Another reform which has attracted commendation from the public is the review of the theory driving test regime. DVLA after research discovered that most potential drivers fail due to their inability to read and write proficiently in the English language. As a result, the Authority has reviewed the entire scope of the Computer Based Test, CBT, and translated it into five local languages that is Twi, Ga, Ewe, Hausa and Dagbani. This will enable clients to undertake the theory examination in the language they are comfortable with. It has introduced electronic vehicle registration as part of its digitization goal and enhanced features on the roadworthy sticker to eliminate the fake ones in the system.

The reforms have paid off as they have been able to reduce the operations of the boys and girls to the barest minimum and the Authority within two years that is between 2018 and 2019 has received 22 awards with the latest from Ghana Integrity Initiative.

DVLA which some years back will not be mentioned without the corruption tag has been turned around to be one of the leading institutions in the digitisation drive and serves as an example to others. The management and staff should be commended for the achievements and all efforts must be made to sustain the gains made. This is because although the goro business has been brought down considerably there are glimpses of it still persisting indicating that there are some elements in the system who are encouraging these boys and girls in their operations.

Management must, therefore, take stringent measures to sanction staff found indulging in the goro business to serve as a deterrent to others. It is hoped that other institutions will emulate the successes chalked up by DVLA to ensure the rapid development of the country.

BY ERNEST OBENG-ANIM, A JOURNALIST.