The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has suspended all fines and penalties issued by its Compliance and Enforcement Unit during nationwide roadside checks, effective Wednesday, October 15, 2025, pending further stakeholder consultations.
The decision follows weeks of intensified enforcement under the Road Traffic Regulations, 2022 (L.I. 2180), which empowered DVLA officers to impose GH¢225 penalties for infractions like expired licenses, faulty brakes, and fake number plates. Introduced in June 2025, the initiative aimed to boost road safety but drew backlash from drivers’ groups, including the Ghana Committed Drivers Association (GCDA), who petitioned the Transport Minister in September, labeling the “delinquency fees” illegal and demanding refunds.
In a statement dated October 14, 2025, DVLA clarified the suspension applies solely to these enforcement fees, not legal requirements for drivers and vehicles. “This suspension relates specifically to the fees and charges that were being enforced by the Compliance Team,” it noted, emphasizing public education on compliance responsibilities.
DVLA CEO Julius Neequaye Kotey attributed the pause to “public feedback and internal consultations,” assuring that road safety remains paramount. The authority plans to refine the program with broader input before resuming, aligning with its mandate under L.I. 2180 to conduct checks and sanctions.
The move has been welcomed by drivers, with GCDA Chairman Charles Danso hailing it as a victory against “regulatory overreach.” However, road safety advocates urge swift resumption to curb accidents, citing 2025’s 1,937 road deaths per NRSA data.
