Mr Poku believes the consultation will help private operators to see returns on their investments
The Chief Executive Officer of a private vehicles’ inspections firm, SPC Engineering has called for the Driver and Vehicle Licencing Authority (DVLA) to engage private operators when discussing new tariffs for testing companies in the country.
According to Dan Fosu Poku the DVLA’s ability to consult the private sector on its tariff increment and review discussions will help them [private operators] to see returns on their investments.
“Failure to review our tariffs periodically affects our operations as costs of equipment and materials keep rising; for the past six years, we have witnessed only one increment in tariffs while cost of operation keeps rising,” he said in an interview.
Mr. Poku also implored government to encourage private entrepreneurs to open more vehicle testing stations in remote areas which lack such facilities as a way of ensuring roadworthiness and safety of vehicles on the roads.
According to him, the opening of such stations must be structured so as not to compromise the quality of service; and also be within a regulatory framework to ensure quality assurance and safety of road users.
Despite the introduction of new vehicle stickers by the DVLA last year, the SPC boss warned that there are still some fake stickers on the market, which he said accounts for road crashes and loss of revenue to government.
Mr. Poku said the DVLA, in its efforts to weed out rickety vehicles, should liaise with the MTTD to strengthen the enforcement of traffic laws, since about 70 percent of the vehicles that ply the country’s roads are not roadworthy.
He further urged the DVLA to strengthen its collaboration with the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service in educating the public, to prevent the harassment of innocent drivers with genuine documents.
SPC Engineering is a company mandated by the Driver and Vehicle Licencing Authority (DVLA) to check the roadworthiness of vehicles; it says there are still fake DVLA stickers in the system despite introduction of the new one in 2018.
The SPC Engineering boss, however, thanked the DVLA for its swift responses to the company whenever the Authority is needed in the area of operational difficulties.
He said SPC’s rigorous testing of vehicles with state-of-the-art equipment from Germany has helped reduce road crashes in the country since inception of the company.
He added: “SPC does not compromise on standards, therefore providing second to none service to the general public.
“The inspection process includes, identification, payment for test; the visual test comprises windscreen, tyres, wipers, wheel -nuts and bolts, seat-belt, number-plates and seats; while the automated test is made up of emission test, alignment, shock absorbers; front, rear and rear brakes test; and the lighting system.”
SPC Engineering, since 2011, is mandated by the DVLA to check the roadworthiness of vehicles as part of efforts and measures by the Authority to reduce road crashes in the country.
