The Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), Julius Neequaye Kotey, has announced plans to introduce a new generation of chip-embedded number plates aimed at enhancing vehicle identification, combating fraud, and improving road safety across Ghana.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Thursday, June 19, Mr. Kotey revealed that the smart number plates—crafted from durable plastic and embedded with electronic chips—are part of a broader modernization initiative to overhaul the country’s vehicle registration system.
“We are changing the entire number plate system,” he stated. “We want to introduce plastic plates embedded with smart chips. This will help us eliminate unregistered vehicles, particularly what we call the ‘Togo cars’ that evade duty payments and often use fake or cloned plates.”
According to Mr. Kotey, the new system will allow security agencies to instantly access detailed vehicle data using scanning technology.
“In the event of a crime or traffic incident, a compliance officer or police officer can simply scan the number plate with a special device and retrieve all the information about the vehicle in real time,” he explained. “It enhances security and accountability.”
Integration with Toll and Road Safety Systems
Beyond vehicle identification, the DVLA boss noted that the chip-enabled plates could also be integrated with automated toll collection systems, potentially replacing the current manual toll booths.
“We’re looking at how these smart plates can also be used for toll collection. For example, when a car passes through a toll zone, the system automatically deducts the fee—possibly via MoMo (Mobile Money),” he said.
To support this plan, Mr. Kotey disclosed that a special committee from the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Roads is exploring several toll models, including systems similar to those used in Dubai, where tolls are deducted automatically without human intervention.
“Some stakeholders believe we should integrate the toll fee into the roadworthiness certification process, so you pay as part of your annual roadworthy renewal,” he added.
Combating Fraudulent Registrations and Fake Certificates
Mr. Kotey also addressed the widespread issue of fake number plates and fraudulent roadworthy certificates, noting that some vehicles on Ghana’s roads are operating without paying import duties or are using falsified documentation.
“There are vehicles on our roads today that haven’t paid the appropriate duties. Some are smuggled in through ECOWAS protocols and then illegally re-registered. In fact, we've identified at least 25 different fraudulent methods used to smuggle and register such cars,” he revealed.
He added that some fraudsters even retrieve number plates from abandoned accident vehicles at police stations and use them to cover up illegal imports.
A Call for Support
The DVLA boss appealed to the public for cooperation and patience as the Authority works to streamline and secure vehicle registration processes.
“These issues are serious, but they are not insurmountable,” he said. “All I ask is that Ghanaians support the reforms and pray for President Mahama as we push to clean up the system and make our roads safer.”
The rollout of the chip-embedded number plates is expected to begin once all technological and regulatory frameworks are in place.
Story By: Afia Ohenewaa Akyerem