The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) in Ghana is set to introduce a smart chip-enabled high-tech number plate system to improve vehicle tracking, reduce unregistered vehicle usage, and modernize road safety.
Acting Chief Executive Officer of the DVLA, Julius Neequaye Kotey, announced the upcoming reform as of a broader initiative to eliminate fraudulent practices in vehicle registration, according to The Ghana Report.
The new number plate system will be made with durable plastic plates with embedded smart chips. This innovation aims to eliminate vehicles that avoid paying duties or use fake or cloned number plates, known as ‘Togo cars’. The embedded chip technology will enable security agencies to identify and verify vehicle details in real time, enhancing law enforcement capabilities.
The system allows law enforcement to scan the number plate to retrieve vehicle information, enabling swift and accurate action. The DVLA is also exploring the integration of smart number plates with Ghana’s toll collection system, potentially eliminating the need for manual toll booths.
Several toll payment schemes, such as automatic deductions through Mobile Money and combining toll payments with roadworthiness certification, are being examined by a committee of Transport and Roads and Highways officials.
Since many cars avoid import restrictions and customs charges, the new system must combat the spread of phony license plates and roadworthy certifications. Mr. Kotey highlights the advantages of the DVLA’s reform plan for law enforcement, national revenue, and road safety, and calls on the public to support it.
Earlier this year, the DVLA introduced 2025 DV plates which include holograms, watermarks, and QR codes, are designed to prevent fraud and ensure authenticity, and rolled out across its offices nationwide.
Mr. Kotey praised the new plates as a significant improvement in vehicle registration and licensing in Ghana.
The DVLA, in collaboration with the Motor Traffic and Transport Department of the Ghana Police Service, issued a warning against the use and sale of counterfeit DV plates.
