The Chief Executive Officer of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), Julius Neequaye Kotey, has dismissed claims by the Minority in Parliament that the Authority’s delinquency charges are illegal.
These charges, commonly referred to as spot fines, are imposed for violations of road traffic regulations such as driving with an expired roadworthy certificate or faulty brakes.
Speaking to journalists in Accra on Thursday, October 16, 2025, Kotey expressed surprise at the Minority’s position, noting that the same charges were enforced during their eight-year tenure in government.
He said, “I've just been informed that the Minority is calling for my head over the delinquency charges. Let me use this medium to inform them that if the delinquency charges are illegal, why was the NPP doing it for eight years?”
“Why were they doing it for eight years? You’ve done something for eight years, and you are now in opposition telling us that what you did for eight years is illegal. So please carry this message to the Minority that the delinquency charges are never illegal. The fees were approved by Parliament, the GH¢225 charges were approved by Parliament for DVLA to charge,” the DVLA CEO stated.
Kotey clarified that the recent withdrawal of DVLA taskforce personnel from the roads was not due to legal concerns but to allow for further public engagement.
“So it doesn’t mean we’ve withdrawn the guys because we realised we were performing anything illegal. It is never illegal. We still stand by our position. The boys will get back on the road and do what is right,” he added.
DVLA to introduce biometric international driver's licences in 2026
The move follows weeks of intensified enforcement by the DVLA’s Compliance Team, aimed at ensuring that drivers and vehicles on Ghana’s roads meet all legal and regulatory requirements.
However, following public feedback and internal consultations, the Authority temporarily suspended the exercise to allow for broader stakeholder engagement.
The delinquency charges are backed by existing legislation, including the Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 (LI 2180). Their enforcement has been strengthened through the deployment of compliance officers.
Additionally, the DVLA operates under the Fees and Charges (Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations, 2023 (LI 2481), which legally authorises various state agencies to collect approved fees.
SA/MA
Watch the latest edition of BizTech below:
Copyright © 1994 - 2025 GhanaWeb. All rights reserved.
