The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) is facing a fresh wave of controversy over the implementation of new number plate stickers, with for
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) is facing a fresh wave of controversy over the implementation of new number plate stickers, with former officials accusing current Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Julius Neequaye Kotey, of taking credit for reforms initiated long before his appointment.
Kotey, in a recent interview with Citi FM’s Umaru Sanda Amadu, claimed that the introduction of the new Dealer Plate (DP) stickers was part of his administration’s initiatives that had boosted DVLA’s revenue.
But documents and memos from 2024 — provided by former DVLA leadership — suggest otherwise, painting a picture of a project that was fully conceived, approved, and prepared for rollout before the current CEO assumed office.
How the Sticker Project Began
In January 2024, the then Minister for Transport, Kwaku Asiamah granted approval for the conversion of DP plates into digital stickers as part of government’s wider digitalisation drive.
According to official correspondence, the move was designed to modernise DVLA operations, reduce fraud, and improve revenue mobilization.
Following ministerial approval, DVLA procured a vendor, who subsequently developed the sticker design and process flow for issuance.
A special committee was formed in May 2024 to oversee the implementation.
By June 2024, the vendor signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with existing manufacturers of DP plates to ensure collaboration rather than competition, protecting jobs and avoiding industrial resistance.
The Ministry of Transport further nominated a representative to sit on the implementation committee in July 2024.
Publicity and Training Ahead of Rollout
Public education on the new sticker system began in September 2024, with news articles and campaigns highlighting the benefits and security features of the project.
By October 2024, DVLA had completed all technical and administrative processes, paving the way for training sessions in November 2024.
Police officers and other stakeholders were briefed on the features of the stickers and the protocols for issuance to curb misuse.
Insiders insist that by December 2024, DVLA was fully prepared to roll out the stickers at the start of the new year.
The only step left was the official issuance in January 2025 — the same process Kotey now claims as his administration’s achievement.
Clash of Narratives
Former DVLA leadership maintains that the current CEO inherited a ready-to-go project, making his claims misleading.
“He did not add anything to it. The work was completed before his appointment. All he did was launch what had already been finalized,” a source close to the previous management stated, while releasing documentary evidence to support the claim.
But Kotey, who has been vocal about reforms under his leadership, insists that the sticker system is part of the broader innovations that have strengthened DVLA’s finances and improved compliance.
Bigger Picture: RFID Plates and Vehicle Smuggling
The sticker controversy comes as DVLA prepares to introduce Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) number plates in 2026.
These plates will contain embedded chips linked to a central database, designed to curb smuggling, prevent registration of vehicles that evade import duties, and enhance law enforcement’s ability to track stolen cars.
The new system follows a May 2025 INTERPOL-led operation, Safe Wheels, which dismantled a major vehicle trafficking network in West Africa, recovering 150 stolen vehicles, including some in Ghana.
Kotey argues that the RFID project is evidence of his administration’s commitment to modernizing Ghana’s vehicle licensing regime.
Critics, however, fear that if credit disputes overshadow implementation, public trust in DVLA’s reforms could be undermined.
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