DVLA reserves right to allow private operators in vehicle testing

Accra, June 16, GNA - Mr Mike Hammah, Minister of Transport on Wednesday explained that it was under administrative directive guidelines, which gave the Driver, Vehicle and Licensing Authority (DVLA) the authority to allow private operators to undertake vehicle testing. Mr Hammah who was answering a question on the floor of Parliament tabled by Mr Joseph Osei-Owusu, Member of Parliament for Bekwai said the DVLA was established by Parliament through the enactment of DVLA Act of 1999, (Act 569).

He said section 3(1) (j) enjoins the authority as part of its statutory functions to license and regulate private garages to undertake vehicle testing.

In pursuance of this, the authority through the previous Board of Directors, granted Messrs S-Class approval on June, 2003 to enable the company undertake pilot projects in testing of vehicle lamps in Accra and Tema.

He said the Auditor- General in its report on the operations of S-class and the authority dated November 16, 2009 advised that the procedure for the award of contract should be in accordance with the provisions of the public procurement Act, 2003, Act 663.

Mr Hammah noted that in order to ensure transparency, competition and fairness, the public procurement Act, 2003 Act 663 enjoins all Ministries, Departments and Agencies who are to undertake procurement either of goods, services or works to go through any of the approved procurement methods in the Act.

He explained that the current board therefore examined the existing partnership between the authority and the private service providers and decided that such services must be de-monopolised.

The intention of the authority therefore was to provide fair and equal economic opportunities to all citizens of Ghana instead of only one company performing the services in the country.