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

The post DVLA rakes in GH¢19.8m in January after cutting out ‘goro boys’ appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to the NSS, it will not bear responsibility for persons who are lured by these agents who extort monies from gullible service personnel with the pretense of getting them posted to their preferred companies and institutions, because posting service personnel does not attract any fee.

[contextly_sidebar id=”VkYSR2XEOhoQa2ftCr0jwwhl0nYMqzXb”]“It has come to the notice of the Management of the National Service Scheme (NSS) that certain individuals have resorted to luring prospective national service personnel into paying specified amounts of money with promises of getting them posted to their preferred companies and institutions. Management takes a serious view of these developments and wishes to state that posting of national service personnel does not attract any fee,” a statement signed by the Acting Executive Director of NSS, Ussif Mustapha stated.

While cautioning those involved in these unscrupulous acts to stop the deceit and extortion, Management of NSS in the statement also advised prospective national service personnel and the general public to be wary of such ongoing activities.

“The general public is to take note that the security agencies have been alerted and that anyone caught to be involved in such unauthorized activities would be dealt with in accordance with the law. Finally, Management wishes to state that the NSS does not engage the services of agents for postings and would not be responsible for any acts of defrauding,” the statement added.

NSS releases pin codes for 2017 registration

The NSS is currently registering potential service personnel for the 2017/2018 service year.

The Service in April 2017 released a total of 134,980 pin codes for prospective personnel seeking to undertake their service.

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Don’t engage ‘goro boys’ for postings – NSS personnel warned appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

This move, he said, will be enforced through sensitization and the intervention of the enforcement agencies.

“The issue of goro boys is an issue that confronts every service seeker. I have said that so long as there is human interface in doing some of these businesses, it will create an avenue for them so one thing I will seek to do is to advise them [DVLA] to go for full automation, technology and constant education. We need to educate the general public about the existence of these goro boys and the need for them to be very careful and also try to bring in the enforcement agency,”

The DVLA in 2014 complained about the influx of Goro Boys at the Authority.

The Authority explained that, the Goro boys interrupt their work by harassing and intercepting documents from clients supposedly to be sent to DVLA officials.

The Authority therefore pledged to get rid of them by clamping down on their activities.

Speaking during his vetting at Parliament House a few hours ago , Mr. Ofori -Asiamah said his Ministry will also devise a mechanism to ensure that roads registered by the DVLA are road worthy.

About Kwaku Ofori – Asiamah

Mr. Kwaku Ofori Asiamah is 47 years old. He is a graduate of the University of Cape Coast, and holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree.

After his National service with Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, Tema, in 2000, he worked as Marketing Manager at Household Aluminium Company Ltd.

He has also worked at Quest Resource Development Consultancy Ltd, and was the General Manager of Josa Plus Ventures.

He served as a member of NPP campaign team in the Central Region in 2008, 2012 and 2016. He also served as a member of National Council of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) from 2009 to date.

He is married with four children.

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

The post We’ll flush out goro boys from DVLA – Kwaku Ofori- Asiamah appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.