Sale of replacement forms for licence on Monday

The sale of forms for the replacement of the old driving licence in the Greater Accra Region begins today.

Mr J. M. Y. Amegashie, Acting Chief Executive of the Vehicle Examination and Licensing Division (VELD) of the Ministry of Transport said the forms would be sold at Post Offices. Addressing the Akuapeman Drivers Union at Akropong, he said the exercise is not meant to disturb drivers but a measure to eliminate fake licences and to ensure safety on the roads. He said that between 93 and 94 per cent of licences sent to VELD for renewal this year and some sent from overseas for verification were found be fake. Mr Amegashie said the signature of a VELD official, who died in 1991, was found on a licence issued in 1992.

Mr Amegashie said that a more secured driving licence does not only allow the bearer to drive but also enables the one to transact business using it as an identification card. It would also make people to have confidence in the Ghanaian licence both internally and externally. He urged vehicle owners to present the licence of their drivers to VELD for verification before engaging them. Mr Kofi Afful, Chairman of the Union, called on drivers to co-operate with VELD to make the exercise a success. He said that the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) is in the process of computerising its membership cards to ensure that dubious characters are removed from its ranks adding that members of the Union are to wear uniforms to distinguish them from others.