Chief Executive Officer of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), Julius Neequaye Kotey, has announced that the authority has begun piloting new Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID)-enabled vehicle number plates ahead of a planned nationwide rollout in 2027.
The DVLA CEO said the new plates are designed to modernize vehicle registration, improve access to vehicle information and support law enforcement through technology that could provide information in real time.
Chief Executive Officer of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), Julius Neequaye Kotey
Mr Kotey made the disclosure when he took his turn at the Government Accountability Series on Monday, October 12, 2026
According to him, the authority had completed the concepts and designs for the plates, which were being tested before their nationwide introduction.
“We have completed the concepts and designs of the new radio frequency identification-enabled number plates. Currently, the new number plate is being piloted ahead of nationwide rollout in 2027,” he said.
Mr Kotey said the designs were developed by DVLA staff without external consultants, adding that the authority had incurred no consultancy fees for the work.
“The designs of these new number plates were carried out by the staff of DVLA. There was no consultancy fee and no external influence over the designs. It was led and completed by an in-house team,” he said.
He said the technology would allow vehicle number plates to carry information useful to law enforcement and could be integrated with electronic road tolling and traffic enforcement systems.
“The RFID technology provides the opportunity for vehicle number plates to carry information that would be useful for law enforcement in the event of crime,” Kotey said.
He added that the system would support integration with electronic road tolling and traffic enforcement technology being deployed by the Motor Traffic and Transport Department of the Ghana Police Service.
The authority also plans to decentralize number plate embossing to all regional offices to reduce delays in vehicle registration.
Driving tests now available in six local languages
The DVLA boss also revealed that the DVLA has introduced six local languages into its computer-based driving test system to help applicants who cannot read or write in English,
He explained that the initiative was intended to reduce language barriers and enable applicants to demonstrate their knowledge of road signs, traffic regulations and safe driving practices
This initiative is intended to reduce language barriers and help applicants demonstrate their knowledge of road signs, traffic regulations and safe driving practices. We are working on increasing the number of local languages in this regard,” he added.
Mr Kotey also announced the introduction of an SMS notification system to remind driving licence holders of their renewal or replacement dates, saying the system sends reminders one month and two weeks before a licence expires.
“This is done a month before expiry, and then the last message is sent two weeks before the date of expiry. For every customer whose mobile number used during the licence application has not changed, they must be qualified to receive such notifications,” he said.
He said the authority was also working to deploy a similar notification system for vehicle roadworthiness renewals to alert vehicle owners when their renewals were
source:www.senaradioonline.com
