Report By: Ishmael Barfi
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has announced that owners of all vehicles registered in Ghana before 2023 must migrate their records from the manual filing system to the authority’s digital platform. The move is a prerequisite for the planned introduction of RFID‑embedded licence plates in 2026, which will enable better traceability and improve road‑safety measures.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra on Tuesday, 13th January, 2026Prosper Kafui Semevo, Director of Driver Training, Testing and Licensing at the DVLA, said the onboarding exercise will require vehicle owners to appear in person at any DVLA office or designated centre with their vehicles, registration documents, customs declaration forms and a Ghana Card for biometric verification.
“The GH¢25 charge covers the verification of biodata only,” he explained, adding that the fee does not include the title certificate or electronic registration card, which will be issued later without extra cost.
The authority stressed that the digitisation is not optional for those who wish to benefit from the new plate system. “If you do not onboard, you cannot obtain a title certificate and electronic card when the new licence‑plate policy starts, and this means you cannot register your vehicle,” Mr Semevo warned, reminding owners that failure to comply would be a breach of the Road Traffic Law.
Stephen Attuh, Director of Corporate Affairs at the DVLA, reiterated that the digital migration is essential for the eventual rollout of the RFID‑enabled plates, which are intended to curb vehicle smuggling, facilitate automated toll collection and enhance overall road safety. He urged owners of pre‑2023 vehicles to visit any DVLA office promptly to avoid being locked out of the new system.
The DVLA clarified that vehicles registered between January 2022 and December 2023 are not yet part of the onboarding drive; their owners will be contacted when the process opens for them . Meanwhile, the authority has opened several offices nationwide and plans to establish up to 40 service centres across the 16 regions within the next four years to ease the transition.
The new licence‑plate policy, originally slated to begin in January 2026, has been suspended pending parliamentary approval of amendments to the Road Traffic Regulation, 2012 (L.I. 2180). Until the amendment is passed, the existing plate system remains in force, but the DVLA emphasises that digital migration is a necessary step for any future upgrade.
The DVLA assured the public that the GH¢25 verification fee is a one‑time charge and that no additional costs will be incurred for the title certificate or electronic registration card. Vehicle owners are encouraged to take advantage of the current window to update their records and prepare for the forthcoming RFID licence plates.
Source: www.thenewindependentonline.com
