The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) in the Ashanti Region is streamlining its administrative and technical duties to fully adapt to the government’s 24-hour initiative.

Following the roll-out of the government’s flagship programme, the DVLA, like many other establishments, have been assessing their infrastructure needs for implementation.

Ashanti Regional Director of the DVLA, Jerry Edem Aflabo, says the decision to extend working hours had been delayed due to infrastructural upgrade and alignment with other regional offices.

According to him, security and lighting improvements are necessary before the night operations can take off.

Mr. Aflabo noted the initiative would improve access to licensing and vehicle registration services to the public.

“If someone is travelling from Tamale and arrives at 10pm, they can still walk in to renew or pick up their licence and continue their journey. It’s all about enhancing service delivery so that no one has an excuse for driving with expired documents,” he noted.

The 24-hour initiative is part of the government’s flagship policies to revolutionize the local economy to provide around-the-clock services.

The new approach, according to Mr. Aflabo, will also reduce the risk of motorists being penalised for expired license or roadworthy certificates, since services will now be accessible at any time of the day or night.

“We want to make sure that at no point should someone be arrested for driving with expired documents simply because they couldn’t find time during the day,” he added.

In enhancing its operation, the DVLA is expanding its presence in the Ashanti Region with the establishment of two new offices in Dormaa and Bechem, with others under construction at Bonwire and other locations.

“The aim is to bring services closer to people and reduce the stress of long travel times to access DVLA facilities,” Mr. Aflabo noted.

Meanwhile, the DVLA is working to introduce new number plates that will carry a regional identifier, vehicle number, area code and an embedded RFID chip.

“These plates will make it possible for enforcement agencies to access vehicle information in real time. The RFID technology will also support a planned electronic tolling system,” he said.

Mr. Aflabo revealed that re-registration will come at a cost, but stressed that the phased rollout is necessary to prevent overcrowding and chaos at DVLA centres.

“We don’t want to rush everybody at once. Just like with the licence conversion, there will be a set period, perhaps a year, for all motorists to transition,” he explained.

He emphasised that these reforms including the 24-hour operations, the expansion of offices, and the rollout of RFID-enabled number plates are designed to improve convenience, enhance safety and reduce crime.

“This is about improving service delivery and ensuring safer roads for everyone,” the Ashanti Regional Director said.