The Chief Executive Officer of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), Julius Neequaye Kotey, has announced plans to establish a specialised hospital for drivers to address their healthcare needs as part of efforts to improve welfare and professionalism within the transport sector.

Speaking to Channel One TV at Jomoro on Friday, January 16, during a sod-cutting ceremony for a new DVLA office, Mr Kotey said the proposed Drivers’ Hospital is intended to motivate drivers, drawing comparisons with similar facilities established by institutions such as banks and COCOBOD.

He disclosed that the Authority is targeting completion of the hospital by the end of the year.

“At a time when the conduct of some drivers is making life uncomfortable for passengers, the Authority is working towards the construction of a Drivers’ Hospital to address the critical healthcare needs of drivers by the close of the year,” he said.

The sod-cutting ceremony marked the commencement of construction works for the Jomoro DVLA office at Samenya. When completed, the facility will expand DVLA’s presence in the Western Region and improve access to services for residents in rural and underserved communities.

On the sidelines of the event, Mr Kotey underscored the Authority’s decentralisation drive as a key strategy to eliminate the activities of middlemen, popularly known as “goro boys”, within DVLA operations.

“The only way to cure the mischief of goro boys is to bring our services to the people. This is a deliberate effort, and by the end of the year, we intend to build 20 offices across the country,” he stated.

The Deputy Minister for Transport and Member of Parliament for Jomoro, Dorcas Affo-Toffey, welcomed the project, noting that the new office will significantly reduce the burden on residents who currently travel long distances to access DVLA services.

She recalled that people in the area previously had to travel to Ellembelle, Takoradi or Axim, often at great cost, to obtain DVLA services, describing the new office as the fulfilment of a key campaign promise to her constituents.