The move, according to the Public Relations Officer at DVLA, Francis Tuffuor, is to allow citizens who cannot write and read to obtain professional driving licenses with ease.

[contextly_sidebar id=”9FIVLDuickqIctvMX8PB3l0ZCimSJmRS”]Some drivers who spoke to Citi News expressed their excitement about the new development, saying this will ease the stress involved in acquiring a license.

One driver said: “I have not gone for a license yet, though I am currently learning how to drive. Getting a license these days is very expensive especially dealing with the ‘goro boys’. Some of them after charging such high amounts will give you a fake license or just entirely frustrate you, but if the test will be conducted in our local dialect, I can just walk straight to the DVLA office and acquire my license.”

Another said: “If the tests are taken in own local languages it will be very helpful for us. I have a license, but someone sat in for the exams for me, as I cannot read or write.”

“I have a license, but I have an apprentice, who is yet to acquire his. With this new introduction, I could just take him to the DVLA office and have him take the test in Twi with ease,” another said.

This move is also expected to also flush out middle men popularly known as goro boys who sometimes issue fake licenses at various DVLA centres.

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By: Farida Yusif/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Drivers welcome DVLA’s local language oral test for license appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The authority collected GH¢19.8 million from roadworthiness certificate renewals from January 1 to 25, this year, as against a little more than GH¢2.6 million recorded in January 2016 and GH¢2.7 million in January 2017.

According to the Chief Executive of the authority, Mr Kwasi Agyeman Busia, the increase in revenue was as a result of the introduction of the authority’s smart card system.

He said the smart card system, which is difficult to clone, had blocked middlemen, popularly known as ‘goro boys’, out of business and the revenue which would have gone into their private pockets was now in state coffers.

On November 7, last year, the DVLA launched a new smart driver’s licence and new vehicle registration smart card, in the face of stiff opposition from some driver unions and groups.

That notwithstanding, the authority was hopeful that the new system would weed out drivers with fake licences and vehicles with fake roadworthiness certificates in the system, as well as cut out middlemen from the licensing regime.

Safety

Almost three months later, Mr Busia said the decision was yielding dividend.

“The old road worthiness system was much compromised. The software was a stand alone, which means that a ‘goro boy’ could print the fake ones at home and sell to people. Now what we have is a web version that is more secure with radio frequency identification in there. It is a much secure document.

“So, for instance, if I scan your road- worthiness, it comes to our database, and if it is not in our system, it will say ‘fake’. We did not have it before. The reason we were bleeding was that the software was compromised and the ‘goro boys’ took advantage of it,” he said.

Licence

Turning his attention to driving licences, the DVLA boss said the situation where the DVLA struggled to provide timeous licences was over, adding that the authority had become more efficient, a development that had prevented ‘goro boys’ from thriving because of lapses in the system.

He said with the current system, the  longest period applicants could wait for their licences was four weeks.

He said  the Prestige Centre at the authority’s head office, for instance, issued licences within 30 minutes, while the premium service took two weeks and standard applicants received their licences within four weeks.

“We are encouraging people to get the new licences because the old one is compromised. We are not forcing people to do it. All driver’s licences will change to the new one and so why not get the new one now at the old price?” he asked.

Printing in-house

He said the authority had acquired the best in terms of technology (laser printing and engraving) to print the licences to put them ahead of duplicators.

Mr Busia further explained that the DVLA used to deal with third parties that printed the licences and in the process misplaced data submitted.

But, he said, the new system, which operates an enterprise software, enables the licence to be printed within.

According to him, the DVLA now has the capacity to print at least 1,500 licences daily.

Meanwhile, daily applications are less than 1,000.

Rickety vehicles

Mr Busia said rickety vehicles were on the roads because ‘goro boys’ had found ways to clone licences.

To nip that in the bud, he said, the DVLA had connected its systems to 13 out of 14 testing centres where the results were transmitted to the authority in real time.

“We want to use every step of the way to beat them. That is how we are solving it. We are getting to a point where they are integrated. We know some people can’t afford to buy, for example, vehicle parts from Germany but could comfortably buy parts from China, but we have a protocol that everything has to pass DVLA standards.

“The DVLA receives data on the number of vehicles that passed or failed the test and their particulars,” he added.

First aid kit

The Ministry of Transport recently stopped the sale of DVLA-branded first aid kits to the motoring public because of public anger at the cost.

But Mr Busia, who apologised to the public for the storm the issue generated, said while it was to fulfil an act of the law, the authority failed to educate the public on the need for the kits.

He, however, denied claims that the authority had imported the kits and was selling them for GH¢108 and maintained that it was the product of a private company that was sold for GH¢84.45 because of 17.5 per cent tax and 15 per cent for the DVLA’s mobilisation and deployment.

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Source: Graphic.com.gh

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Speaking on Eyewitness News after government had stopped the unapproved payment, Mr. Agbodza said the Transport Ministry must immediately set up a committee to probe the matter and punish those who took that decision.

[contextly_sidebar id=”Ya5j1V865MK1DCuZ9PTnCtyTMmkPXQv0″]“Who actually at the DVLA decided that in the name of this country called Ghana, drivers should be charged GHc 108 for First Aid Kits? The Ministry [should] quickly set up a committee, identify this individual or individuals, sanction them appropriately and give refunds to those whose refunds have been taken illegally.”

“Ghanaians are not going to take this apology and go home and say that is the end of it. I am not satisfied on that front. I am only satisfied that the Minister and his colleagues took that decision by listening to Ghanaians and saying that the charge was illegal,” the MP said.

Mr. Agbodza’s call came after the Deputy Minister of Transport, Titus Glover, said his outfit was not aware of the charges, and added the DVLA needed to have engaged its stakeholders properly before introducing the policy.

Titus Glover also said drivers who had been charged could have their monies refunded.

But Mr. Agbodza insisted that, a number of key questions remained unanswered hence the call for a probe.

“If the board is not aware and the Ministry is not aware, when the money is paid, is it paid to an individual? Is it paid to the DVLA account… is the board saying that they wake up to get GHc 100,000 in their account and they are not going to ask; how did this money come into our accounts? There is a lot we need to find out.”

According to him, the Transport Ministry also needed to be very concerned with the development.

“The Minister and the board need to be very scared of the possibility of some employees of government at DVLA capable of taking this kind of decision that is so sweeping to take money from the people of Ghana,” the MP stated.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Probe DVLA over First Aid kit charges – MP appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

This follows a directive by the board of DVLA that halted the implementation, after the Transport Ministry said the DVLA acted arbitrarily in implementing the policy.

[contextly_sidebar id=”cpPmctu3Zp9LT5u291FrZVHYyFAikZEc”]Speaking on Eyewitness News,  a Deputy Transport Minister, Titus Glover, said potential claims should be “looked at case by case,” whilst reiterating his earlier assertion that the situation was totally unacceptable.

“They should make an application. So long as the board has instructed that they should stop it entirely. It should be looked at on a case by case [basis], and if you make the application, why not,” the deputy Minister stated.

The DVLA halted the charges on the instructions of the Ministry of Transport.

The Ministry said that stakeholders involved were not properly engaged ahead of the policy’s implementation.

The DVLA  introduced the compulsory charge of GHc 108 for the acquisition of the kits for new vehicle owners seeking to register their vehicles.

The charge was met with stiff opposition from vehicle owners, who argued that they reserved the right to purchase such items by themselves at a cheaper cost.

Minority MP calls for probe

Meanwhile, the Minority Spokesperson on Roads and Highways, Kwame Agbodza, has told Citi News the Transport Ministry must immediately set up a committee to probe the matter.

“Who actually at the DVLA decided that in the name of this country called Ghana, drivers should be charged GHc 108 for First Aid Kits? The Ministry [should] quickly set up a committee, identify this individual or individuals and sanction them appropriately.”

“Ghanaians are not going to take this apology and go home and say that is the end of it,” Mr. Agbodza stated emphatically.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post First Aid Kit charge: Drivers can file for refund – Transport Ministry appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Deputy Transport Minister, Titus Glover, told Citi News that the DVLA has been communicated to in that regard.

The DVLA failed to duly inform both the board and the Ministry before going ahead with the implementation, according to Mr. Glover.

The DVLA this week introduced the compulsory charge of Ghc108 for the acquisition of First Aid Kits for new vehicle owners seeking to register their vehicles.

This decision has been met with stiff opposition from vehicle owners, who argue that they reserve the right to purchase such items by themselves at a cheaper cost.

The Minority in Parliament subsequently registered its opposition to the charges, and called for it to be halted.

Speaking to Citi News, Deputy Minister of Transport, Nii Kwartei Titus Glover, said the DVLA needed to have engaged its stakeholders properly before introducing the policy.

“Let me put it on record that the Ministry of Transport is not aware of the sale, because if there should be any major decision, the management needs to discuss with the board of DVLA, and it’s also on record that the board is not aware of the sale. So we were all taken unawares when this issue came up, so what we intend doing, is to invite the Chief Executive of the DVLA and his team to the Ministry. The choice is on the driver, they have to walk into any shop and buy their own First Aid Kits. If the drivers in my constituency want to use any First Aid Box they can walk into Community One and just grab one and pay for it.”

“You must have the right to express yourself on the price, but where you force it down the throat of the drivers; they can resist it because first of all, there has not been any proper engagement and this is a New Year. They have to halt it because this is a national security matter. If the drivers decide to lay down their tools, it will become a problem for all of us” he lamented.

The DVLA had early on defended the decision to charge vehicle owners for the provision of First Aid boxes.

Speaking to Citi News’ Philip Nii Lartey, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the DVLA, Francis Asamoah Tuffour, said the introduction of the levy was necessary to ensure the safety of road users.

“Research that we’ve conducted indicates that, about half of the vehicles we have in the country don’t have First Aid Kits. The slogan of DVLA is ‘Your safety is our concern.’ As an institution, we need to raise revenue for the state, but the safety of the drivers and occupants of the vehicle is our hallmark. So we are saying that we want to introduce this system so that the First Aid Kits will be in your vehicle so that in the event there’s a cut or accident or a minor injury, you can treat yourself before going to the hospital,” he said.

He denied suggestions that the charge was introduced by the DVLA to fleece the drivers in order to raise revenue for the Authority

“It is not a deliberate attempt to introduce the system to take money. The DVLA is not an institution that is so poor. We are thinking about the safety of drivers. There have been instances where accidents have been recorded and there’s no First Aid kit available. It’s worrying and as a country, we have to look at it. Things are changing and we have to move alongside,” he said.

‘More than just a First Aid Kit’

Francis Asamoah Tuffour also clarified that the amounts being charged covered not only the First Aid Kit but other items as well.

“All the components are factored into the amount and not just the First Aid Kit. There are about three or four items, the kit, the license pack and some others.”

He also insisted that there had been announcements of the new charge in the media prior to its implementation, dismissing claims that it had been sprung on the public.

“Once you go through the registration system, that’s where you pay for it. The whole thing started on Tuesday so for those who are saying they have no idea, they have to come again. Those who came on Tuesday attested to the fact that they paid. That notwithstanding, if they aren’t aware, it’s something that has been introduced, not for our sake but for their own safety,” he added.

“Prior to this, sometime last year, we had some media announcements with respect to this. The fact that they have not heard doesn’t mean that they are unaware of the system. Even if they are, they should just embrace the system for their own sake.”

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By: Ebenezer Afanyi Dadzie & Philip Nii Lartey /citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Some car owners who had gone to register their vehicles at the DVLA’s offices in Accra expressed their frustration on Wednesday, after they noticed that they had been charged about GH¢108 for the First Aid Boxes.

[contextly_sidebar id=”69W7oRjmAdkrSJn8UBPCvo41IZpZkCvw”]However, speaking to Citi News‘ Philip Nii Lartey, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the DVLA, Francis Asamoah Tuffour, said the introduction of the levy was necessary to ensure the safety of road users.

“Research that we’ve conducted indicates that, about half of the vehicles we have in the country don’t have First Aid Kits. The slogan of DVLA is ‘Your safety is our concern.’ As an institution, we need to raise revenue for the state, but the safety of the drivers and occupants of the vehicle is our hallmark. So we are saying that we want to introduce this system so that the First Aid Kits will be in your vehicle so that in the event there’s a cut or accident or a minor injury, you can treat yourself before going to the hospital,” he said.

He denied suggestions that the charge was introduced by the DVLA to fleece the drivers in order to raise revenue for the Authority

“It is not a deliberate attempt to introduce the system to take money. The DVLA is not an institution that is so poor. We are thinking about the safety of drivers. There have been instances where accidents have been recorded and there’s no First Aid kit available. It’s worrying and as a country, we have to look at it. Things are changing and we have to move alongside,” he said.

‘More than just a First Aid Kit’

Francis Asamoah Tuffour also clarified that the amounts being charged covered not only the First Aid Kit but other items as well.

“All the components are factored into the amount and not just the First Aid Kit. There are about three or four items, the kit, the license pack and some others.”

He also insisted that there had been announcements of the new charge in the media prior to its implementation, dismissing claims that it had been sprung on the public.

“Once you go through the registration system, that’s where you pay for it. The whole thing started on Tuesday so for those who are saying they have no idea, they have to come again. Those who came on Tuesday attested to the fact that they paid. That notwithstanding, if they aren’t aware, it’s something that has been introduced, not for our sake but for their own safety,” he added.

“Prior to this, sometime last year, we had some media announcements with respect to this. The fact that they have not heard doesn’t mean that they are unaware of the system. Even if they are, they should just embrace the system for their own sake.”

‘Make First Aid Kits optional’

The Minority in Parliament has called on the government to halt the DVLA’s mandatory charges for the First Aid Kits.

The group’s spokesperson for Roads and Transport, Kwame Agbodza, believes that just like the towing tax, this new charge should not be mandatory.

“If we think towing is important but we expect people to take responsibility and do it by themselves, why are we selling First Aid boxes to them directly? Why don’t we ask them to go and buy it?” Mr. Agboza queried.

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By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post ‘Mandatory’ First Aid kits meant to ensure public safety – DVLA appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Vehicle owners seeking to register their vehicles for this year [2018], are being levied a compulsory GH¢108 for First Aid boxes.

[contextly_sidebar id=”VtLu0hRnbOiNc2TTDd2DZb1Oo7Z1ytlb”]The Minority Spokesperson for Roads and Transport, Kwame Agbodza, who wants the mandatory charge halted, believes that just as the towing tax, this new charge should not be mandatory.

“If we think towing is important but we expect people to take responsibility and do it by themselves, why are we selling First Aid boxes to them directly? Why don’t we ask them to go and buy it?,” Mr. Agboza queried.

He also expressed his misgivings about the cost, saying “who determines the cost? Why can’t I get a cheaper one somewhere? Why is it attached to the registration of vehicles? I think it should be stopped immediately for us to have a dialogue.”

“I just sent a message to the Minister that I cannot support him on this. This is very wrong. At a time motorists are suffering on so many levels, fuel prices are up and everything, it is just wrong,”said Mr. Agbodza.

In 2017, Mr. Agbodza raised similar concerns about the mandatory towing levy, after millions of Ghanaians kicked against the initiative, which was to be undertaken solely by Jospong Group of companies.

Government had plans of implementing the tow tax but subsequently suspended it after the Roads and Transport Committee of Parliament met with the Road Safety Commission, the DVLA and other stakeholders over the matter.

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah

The post Stop mandatory sale of First Aid boxes by DVLA – Minority appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to the Director of Driver Training Testing and Licensing of the DVLA, Alhaji C.W. Musah, it is important for the two bodies to cooperate in order to prevent the duplication of cards.

[contextly_sidebar id=”Tk1NfMWTIsxphqVhNxzHCfPc3ytV8imq”]He added that, a synchronization of efforts of the two entities will help prevent the issuance of fake drivers’ licenses as well.

“The drivers’ license can be linked with other documents, but the license, by international regulations, is not comparable with other documents. If there are other national documents as in other jurisdictions, you can always link your driver’s license to those jurisdictions, and the licenses we are producing now will link with those jurisdictions. It will help us do a lot of corrections,” he said on the Citi Breakfast Show on Wednesday.

“There are people who have got multiple documents and the same identity. When the National ID comes on, we’ll be able to verify whether that person is really who they claim to be and whether they are in the national ID system. We’ll be able to pull from the biodata and process it. It complements each other so we are working hand-in-hand.”

The new license will contain a contactless chip loaded with the owner’s bio-data and the driver’s personal information for secure identification.

It will also make use of state-of-the-art-technology; for secure ID printing that can be easily integrated with other systems of 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).

“It will have improved security. It comes with improved and guaranteed security of card and data, as well as a unique design that depicts the rich culture of the country,” the Deputy CEO of the Authority, Kwame Appiah Kubi had said early on.

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By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post DVLA collaborating with NIA on new smart card license appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

[contextly_sidebar id=”jhcodd0Nua6WnPL2emFfwAai83BVuJbH”]This follows the introduction of the New Smart Drivers’ License which will be launched on the 7th of November 2017.

Speaking to Citi Business News at the sidelines of a media engagement with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority( DVLA), Deputy CEO of the Authority, Kwame Appiah Kubi was optimistic that the introduction of the new system will among other things reduce revenue leakages normally associated with the application of driver’s licenses.

“We have to digitize, which is also part of government’s target that we remove the human interface from the system. It’s there that this issue of “gorro” boys” will be removed, he said.

“Dwindling revenue is also going to be improved, that is why management came out with this policy of digitizing almost all our services so that it will be easier for people to access our services,” he added.

Speaking about some features of the new license, Appiah Kubi stated that it has a contactless Chip; to promote good storage of bio-data and personal driver information.

He pointed out the license will also have that State of the Art- Technology; making use of the latest technology for secure ID printing that can be easily integrated with other systems of the DVLA.

“It will have improved Security. It comes with improved and guaranteed security of card and data, as well as a unique design that depicts the rich culture of the country,” he said.

According to the Mr. Appiah Kubi the move is borne out of the important need to have a portable device that would store all pieces of information that were originally stored on the paper of Vehicle Registration Certificate as well as the Form A and Form C.

“While the information of vehicle owners will be more secure and better protected, it will also make it relatively easy for DVLA officers to retrieve vehicle documents and this will ultimately have a positive impact on the authority”.

Benefits of New Vehicle Registration Smart Card.

1. It is expected to enhance the vehicle registration process because application and processing could be done online.
2. It simplifies the transfer of ownership of motor vehicles registered in another jurisdiction and eliminates to compose transfer letter(s).
3. It enables frontline officers of the Authority to determine the information of vehicle owners during the registration process in cases where vehicles were previously registered in another jurisdiction.

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).

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By: Anita Arthur/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana

The post DVLA goes digital with registration of drivers’ license appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

He therefore cautioned the public to be wary of it.

“We thought that some people from other places were bringing fake number plates to sell to innocent people in the region, but we have now found out that a syndicate within the Bolgatanga Township is involved in the illegal business and we are putting intelligence together to trace those people”, he said.

Mr. Abdulai said the illegal activity is causing financial loss to the DVLA.

“Every year, we register more than 8,000 motorcycles, but we suspect that the syndicate sells about 3,000 fake number plates, which is not a small amount of money.”

He said last August, the DVLA together with the police service arrested two suspects in the Ashanti Region for engaging in the production of fake number plates, and that might have trickled down to the Upper East, he added.

Mr. Abdulai cautioned those who patronize the fake number plates to desist from doing so, because such number plates could not be used to trace stolen vehicles.

He entreated the public to apply for their vehicle and motorbike licenses only at the DVLA, and urged all to be wary of fake number plates and report to the appropriate authorities on such deals.

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Source: GNA

The post DVLA cautions against fake licences and number plates appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.