Driver's Licence Extension: You're only baiting us for votes - Concerned drivers group to Dr. Bawumia

The Concerned Drivers Association of Ghana (C-DAG) have raised concerns about the promise made by the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, to extend the validity period of driver’s licences from two to 10 years.

Currently, a driver’s license holder has a two-year period to renew their card, while a Ghanaian passport holder has a 10-year validity period before renewal.

Addressing a gathering of chiefs and other stakeholders at Boadua in the Akwatia Constituency of the Eastern Region as part of his election campaign tour, Dr Bawumia said, "Today, the driver's license expires every two years. Let us extend it, be it 8 years or 10 years. Let us ensure that you can have a driver's license without having to renew it annually. It does not make sense, and so by the grace of God, we will make changes."

In the wake of these comments, the group believes that the pledge made by the vice president is merely “another bait to just win the votes of drivers because he has in times past exhibited glaring lack of concern.”

In a statement issued on August 13, 2024, the operators called on the NPP flagbearer to instead focus on eliminating the numerous taxes imposed on petroleum products and addressing the various challenges in the transportation sector.

They also urged the NPP flagbearer to work on reducing the cost of obtaining a driving license, roadworthy certificate, and vehicle registration, as well as fulfilling his 2020 promises before making any new pledges.

Over the years, motorists have long complained about harassment from both Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) officials and the police due to the non-renewal of their licenses.

See the full statement below:

The Concerned Drivers Association of Ghana

13th August, 2024

Press Statement for Immediate Release

Bawumia Cannot Be Trusted Over the Ten-Year Renewal of Driver’s License

We have become aware of Vice President Mahamadu Bawumia’s promise to implement a policy that will allow for driver’s license to be renewed only after ten years.

While we welcome the suggestion as a brilliant idea, we have genuine cause to not just believe but to also state unequivocally that it is another bait to just win the votes of drivers because he has in times past exhibited a glaring lack of concern for the plight of drivers.

It is of public knowledge that drivers in the country, particularly, commercial drivers are in deep shackles of suffering as a result of policies instituted by the NPP and by the same Bawumia’s led Economic Management Team.

It is Bawumia’s government that introduced the Sanitation and Pollution Levy (SPL) on petroleum products and several other taxes that are contributing to the continuous increment in fuel prices.

Under the same Akufo Addo/Bawumia government, the cost of acquiring, renewing and replacing of driver’s licenses and road-worthy certificates have been increased astronomically.

It is also publicly known that prior to the 2020 elections, the same Bawumia pledged electric vehicles that would have been purchased under hire for drivers but his government’s tenure is almost ending and not even a single electric vehicle has been procured for any driver.

Even recently, Dr Bawumia at the GPRTU executives’ elections which was held in Kasoa pledged to have the situation where vehicle owners pay penalties for road-worthy certificate renewal for vehicles that went to the workshop dealt with swiftly. However, he appears to have completely forgotten the July 5 pledge.

The deception is stark and makes it obvious that he is only acting in a cunning manner to win the votes of drivers.

But just as the adage goes, ‘once bitten twice shy’ and so we wish to call on Bawumia to exercise his commitment by removing the taxes his government placed on petroleum products, reducing the acquisition cost of driving license, roadworthy certificates and vehicle registration as well as honouring his 2020 pledge before gaslighting us with any new pledge.

We call on divers to be more vigilant about these promises being churned out by the vice president who is now leading the NPP into the 2020 elections and not to be swayed by same.

MA/AE