Nzema East Municipality gets ultra-modern DVLA office

The Driver and Vehicle Licencing Authority (DVLA), as part of its decentralization agenda, has inaugurated an ultra-modern office complex at Ayisakro near Axim in the Nzema East Municipality of the Western Region.

The office will be a center of excellence to render timely and good services for people especially drivers and motor riders who require a license for their activities.

The commencement of DVLA’s operations in the Nzema East Municipality would, therefore, save the aforementioned people (drivers and other transport operators) the cost of traveling to the Regional Capital, Sekondi-Takoradi and Tarkwa in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality to acquire their licenses.

The edifice, which was the brain-child of the Member of Parliament for Evalue-Ajomoro Gwira constituency and the Minister of State at the Presidency, Catherine Ablema Afeku, was executed by Fridoug Construction Ltd within 18 months.

Speaking at the official inaugural ceremony at Ayisakro on Monday, July 22, 2019, the Minister for Transport, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah hailed the Chiefs and people of Ayisakro for throwing their support behind the MP to bring this important project to the area.

He also commended the Abusuakpanyinli of the area for releasing the land for the establishment of the DVLA in Nzema East Municipality.

He revealed to the gathering that Hon Catherine Afeku was a hardworking Minister who championed the establishment of the DVLA branch in the Nzema East Municipality.

"Hon. Catherine Afeku is not an enemy of progress, she has the development of her people at heart, she played a major role of this facility we all see here and I will urge you to retain her as your MP in 2020 for more developmental projects", the Transport Minister acknowledged.

The Minister, therefore, seized the opportunity to commend the Authority for establishing 30 offices across the country and challenged other Districts to liaise with the Authority to also get some.

"This ultra-modern office complex that you see here in Nzema East Municipality added to the existing 29 making 30 across the country. I, therefore, use this opportunity to challenge other Districts to work with the DVLA for them to open their offices in their areas" he emphasized.

Hon. Asiamah was happy that currently, DVLA clients could acquire their licenses in less than 30 minutes for those who applied for prestige service.

He said the Authority was performing well under Akufo-Addo-led administration and had redeemed it's lost glory.

"Before Akufo-Addo-led administration, drivers were suffering to acquire licenses but that era of frustration is over", he opined.

He also added that the era of middlemen (Goro boys) was over and that Ghanaians needed to applaud the Authority.

The Minister warned the DVLA staff not to give any license without authority to anybody especially those unqualified or undeserving at all in order to avoid further accidents on our roads.

"...If anybody comes to acquire a license, check the person well before and if I hear that you have given license to anybody at all that will cause accidents, I will personally come here and close this office", he warned.

He also advised drivers in this country to drive well to avoid accidents.

Hon. Asiamah urged the Chiefs to visit the office on time to see whether the staff were doing well and support them.

On his part, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Authority, Kwame Appiah-Kubi said the location of the new office was fantastic and gave thanks to the Chief of the area for the land offered.

He noted that the office would help Ghana National Gas Company (GNGC), oil companies, mining companies among others in the area a lot and then urged them to patronize their services.

He disclosed that the Authority was currently undertaken so many transformational programs and projects as part of its transformational agenda.

He mentioned the Prestige Center and the introduction of Premium Services that helps drivers to renew their licenses in 30 minutes or in two weeks.

"We are undertaking so many transformal agenda to make the Authority attractive to all and these are; Prestige Center and the introduction of Premium Services whereby among others, one can renew a driver's license in 30 minutes or in two weeks", he said.

He continued that "the Optimization of DVLA Mobile Services to bring our services to the people even as we march towards the construction of DVLA offices in many Districts as possible".

He disclosed that the Authority was introducing computer-based exam in September to test drivers and one of the languages the Authority will use was an Nzema language.

"The introduction of Voice-Over in six Ghanaian languages of which driver's license computer-based test, with Nzema being one of them. From September, if you didn't go to school at all, you can get a license, from September our computer-based exam, we have added six Ghanaian languages and we have chosen Nzema language as one of them", he noted.

Mr. Appiah-Kubi again indicated that the authority was piloting the execution of Electronic Registration of vehicles in Ghana and that when fully developed, Ghana will be one of the few countries in the world to completely register a vehicle within one hour.

He, therefore, seized the opportunity to throw a challenge to the management and staff of this new office to work towards the standards and goals set to make the center as one of the best centers of the Authority in the country.

"The challenge, I, therefore, throw to the management and staff of this new office is, uphold and work hard towards standards and goals that will set you apart as one of the best service centers of the Authority", he emphasized.

He said "I charge this new office to win Client Service Grading award in the coming year as a medal to the good people of Ayisakro-Axim. Our clients deserve nothing but excellence from us".

He concluded by acknowledging some people who played a major role in the establishment of the new office, "I will like to say a big thank you and congratulations to all those whose hard work let to the commissioning of this new office. My special appreciation goes to the Minister for Transport Hon. Kweku Ofori Asiamah, the MP, Hon. Catherine Afeku, the MCE, Hon. Frank Okpenyen and the traditional authority for their immense support".

On her part, the Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Hon. Catherine Afeku hailed the contractor, Fridoug Construction Limited for the wonderful work done.



She also mentioned the Chief of the area, Abusuakpanyinli Arizie for releasing the land for the office complex adding, that God will forever bless him and his family.

The MP hailed the Transport Minister and DVLA Chief Executive Officer for listening to her appeal culminating in the establishment of one of the DVLA branches in her area.

Hon. Afeku noted that the new branch would reduce the burden on drivers who always travel from Nzema to Tarkwa and Takoradi for a license.

"The era of frustration, suffering of drivers and cost of transportation to Takoradi and Tarkwa to acquire driving license is over now", she expressed excitement

She noted that the DVLA branch in her area would not benefit her constituents alone, but benefit the good people of Ellembelle District, Ahanta West Municipality, Jomoro Municipality and Aowin Municipality and urged drivers in these areas to pray hard for President Akufo-Addo for supporting the setting up of this edifice.

She said the new branch of DVLA in the area will boost economic activities of locals, adding that, it would create employment.

She also charged the Western Regional DVLA boss, Mr. Emmanuel Narl to train some of the youth of the area to take over the office as DVLA experts in six months time.

The MP, who has been nicknamed by her admirers as Nyamekeh Yaa Asantewa Catherine Abelema Afeku, during the occasion, urged the management and staff of the office to maintain the place to last longer.

She also urged the staff of the new office to be more respectful to clients, eschew laziness, lateness to work and other vices which could tarnish the image of the Authority.

Speaking on behalf of the Paramount Chief of Lower Axim Traditional Council, Nana Amo Miezah thanked President Akufo-Addo and also thanked the MP for the area for the edifice.

He, therefore, encouraged the MP, Hon. Catherine Afeku to lobby for more developmental projects to come to the area.

He also affirmed that the era of traveling to Takoradi and Tarkwa to acquire license would be the thing of the past.

He seized the opportunity to appeal to President Akufo-Addo to bring more developmental projects to the good people of Ayisakro and as the saying goes, "Oliver Twist he asked for more".

The cultural troupe of Ayisakro M/A Basic School entertained the gathering and it was so colourful of a ceremony.