Drivers to Protest Against New DVLA License

Members of the Ghana Drivers and Car Owners Association are planning to embark on a nationwide demonstration to kick against the implementation of the New Smart Driver’s License .

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) recently announced that it will launch the New Smart Drivers’ License on the 7^th of November, as part of measures to address challenges  associated with the acquisition of licenses such as fake licenses and revenue leakages.

However in an interview with Citi Business News, General Secretary for the Ghana Drivers and Car Owners’ Association, Michael Nana Kunadu said the issuance of the new license is skewed towards computer literates and hence will not favor them.

“If you have not been to school, if you are not educated, if you don’t have a certificate you cannot acquire a driver’s license in this country. That is what the DVLA is telling us”

He added, “Why can’t they think of any other way to help us instead of always changing driver’s license and causing commotion here and there, we are pleading with President Nana Akufo-Addo for him to find a way to talk to the authorities of DVLA before they go ahead with the issuance of the new licenses because it is going to worry most of us drivers”.

According to Mr Kunadu, after a careful study of the new system, the association came to the conclusion that it will not only create severe inconveniences but will also derail work and plunge their operations  into unwarranted costs.

“We find this move not only as a money-making venture to some self-seeking individuals but also a move that will totally subject us to police intimidations and therefore call on all stakeholders in the transport sector to kick against this proposal”.

Mr Kunadu warned that  should government fail in stopping the DVLA, the association  shall embark on a nationwide strike followed by series of demonstrations until their demands are met.

“If they do not heed to our concerns and they go ahead to roll out this new license on the 7^th of November ,we the drivers are going to go on a nationwide strike on the same day and no car will work and then the DVLA will see how embarrassing that will be for the DVLA”.

Acquiring the new driver’s license will attract an additional Gh₵91, separate from the present charges on all other services including replacement (Gh₵64 + Gh₵91 = Gh₵155), new license (Gh₵166 +Gh₵91 = Gh₵257) and transferring a foreign license to Ghanaian one (Gh₵364 + Gh₵91 = Gh₵445).