The 2025 Annual Residential Delegates Congress of the DVLA Workers’ Union opened at the Royal Lee’s Hotel in Akuapem Tutu in the Eastern Region.

The ceremony, held on Friday, December 5, 2025, brought together key stakeholders, including the Chief Labour Officer, the Executive Secretary of the National Labour Commission, representatives from the DVLA, and the Staff Association of the National Communications Authority (NCA), among others.

Delivering the keynote address, Chief Labour Officer Dawuda Ibrahim Braimah described the congress as an important platform for reflection and decision-making.

Speaking on the theme “Driving Excellence in Solidarity, Ensuring Equity for All Employees,” he stressed that excellence, solidarity, and equity must guide the future of labour administration.

He stated that excellence in public service, particularly within a regulatory institution like the DVLA, is not optional.

“Excellence requires responsiveness, innovation, and efficiency,” he said.

“Every licence processed, every vehicle inspected, and every customer served contributes to national safety and public confidence.”

On solidarity, Mr. Braimah said, “Solidarity is the bedrock of a strong labour union. It fosters unity, mutual support, and the collective strength necessary to advocate for better working conditions.”

He urged the union to continue prioritising dialogue with management and government, stating that adversarial labour relations benefit no one.

Touching on equity, he noted that fairness in remuneration, opportunities, and treatment is both a legal and moral obligation under Ghana’s Labour Act.

“Equity must be paired with responsibility,” he added, urging workers to uphold professionalism, discipline, and dedication while supporting DVLA’s mandate.

He further encouraged delegates to use the congress to strengthen internal democracy, promote unity, and adopt resolutions that advance fairness, productivity, and institutional excellence.

Speaking on behalf of the Chief Executive of the DVLA, Deputy Director Kwasi Bona Otuo Serebour underscored the importance of unity and a peaceful working environment.

He praised staff for their dedication, noting that the DVLA had received at least 10 awards since February 2025 due to improved service delivery and strengthened operational structures.

He highlighted several technological and administrative innovations introduced by the Authority, including SMS reminders for licence renewals, an upcoming digitised roadworthy renewal system, and a digitized accident reporting platform to streamline documentation and improve accuracy.

He also announced the introduction of digitised international driver’s permits and international vehicle permits, as well as the successful DP sticker reform, which increased monthly issuance from 2,000 to 15,000 and significantly cut revenue losses.

Mr. Serebour revealed that 24-hour operations introduced at the Adentan office have performed exceptionally, and from January 2026, all regional offices and Greater Accra branches will run similar extended-hours services to improve public access.

He added that verification for vehicle registration, previously available only on Android, will now include iOS users.

“From the first working day of January 2026, Ghanaians will be seeing our new numbers that we hope to roll out,” he announced regarding the upcoming securitised digital licence plate system.

He urged union members to serve as ambassadors of the new system and assured them that the DVLA remains committed to improving working conditions, investing in staff development, and strengthening institutional integrity.

In a keynote message delivered on her behalf, the Executive Secretary of the National Labour Commission, Dr. Bernice Wellbeck, emphasised the crucial role of strong industrial relations in organisational success.

She explained that effective labour-management relations, grounded in dialogue, collective bargaining, adherence to labour laws, and respect for workers’ rights, are essential for workplace harmony and productivity.

She described the theme of the congress as a strategy rooted in diversity, equity, inclusion, positive communication, and continuous learning, adding that employees must be empowered to reach their full potential while maintaining a culture of mutual respect and understanding.

The Chairman of the National Communications Authority Staff Association, Thomas Daniel Hayford, delivered a message of solidarity, stressing the need for empathy and fairness within public institutions.

He said that behind every innovation are hardworking people whose efforts must be acknowledged and rewarded, adding that equal treatment of workers is essential for sustaining morale and productivity.

An open forum allowed DVLA workers to raise concerns about salary structures, promotions, and measures being taken to improve institutional efficiency.

Management and executives addressed these issues, reaffirming their commitment to the welfare of staff and the continuous improvement of DVLA operations.

The congress also featured a session on investment and financial literacy led by business and financial coach Maxwell Ampiaw-Kwening, who guided members on planning and securing their financial futures.

The 2025 Delegates Congress concluded with a renewed pledge from labour, management, and stakeholders to uphold excellence, equity, and solidarity as the DVLA continues its transformation agenda into 2026 and beyond.