The Chairperson of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and former Deputy Minister of Finance, Abena Osei Asare, has spoken about her confrontation with the Chief Executive Officer of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), Julius Neequaye Kotey, during a PAC sitting.
The confrontation, which became controversial, saw Abena Osei Asare criticising the DVLA boss over new number plates the authority plans to introduce.
Speaking on the issue in an interview on Channel One TV on November 10, 2025, Abena Osei Asare stated that her posture toward Julius Neequaye Kotey was not one of anger but that of someone discharging her duties.
“I wasn’t angry, but you know when you are in a position, you have to live up to it. You came, you told us you were doing ABCD with reference to the number plates, you are coming up with new security features. When we sit there, it’s about the people of Ghana, and we echo their concerns.
“When we give you the opportunity to share what you do, it’s not about Abena or the Ranking Member asking. But Ghanaians need answers," she said.
Asked if the matter had since been resolved, she responded, “I gave him the opportunity to answer, and he chose to answer the way he did.”
It may be recalled that a tense exchange erupted during Monday, October 27, 2025, sitting of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) when, Abena Osei Asare, confronted Julius Neequaye Kotey, over details of the Authority’s proposed digital number plate system.
The disagreement arose during discussions on the DVLA’s plan to digitise personal vehicle data through new Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)-enabled number plates part of efforts to strengthen security and curb vehicle-related crimes.
Explaining the initiative, Kotey told the Committee that the digital number plates would include RFID chips “to make them very difficult for external entities to tamper with or replicate.”
However, PAC Chair Abena Osei Asare sought clarity on the scope of data to be embedded, particularly whether the plates would bear vehicle owners’ surnames.
“I'm asking you a specific question. Is it going to have the user's surname on the number plates?” she asked.
In response, the DVLA CEO initially stated, “We don't put names on number plates… I was wondering why that question. Sorry, but we don't put names on number plates.”
That answer appeared to frustrate the Chair, who interjected sharply, “What are you telling me? People pay to have their names on number plates and you sit here as the DVLA boss and tell me you don't put numbers on number plates.
“Haven't you seen specialized numbers with people's surnames and personalized names on number plates? yes or no…. So why are you telling me you don't put names on number plates?
Kotey clarified, “We don’t put names on number plates… So, I can explain that,” but that response prompted another rebuttal from Osei Asare.
“Not that you can explain that. You said, you don't expect me to ask you that question…that is what you said. You don't expect me to ask you that question because people do not put their number plates, their names on their number plates.
'What are you telling me?' – Watch as Abena Osei Asare loses cool on DVLA boss at PAC sitting
“That is a blatant lie. You have people who pay for specialized number plates and they have theirs and if I'm asking you, you just mentioned that there are going to be security features.
“And I'm asking, is that going to include people's names on that plate? And you said, you don't expect me to ask you that question, are you not a DVLA boss?”
AM/SSM
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