OSP Summons DVLA CEO Kotey Over GH¢4 Million Bribe Allegations in Digital Plate Rollout Probe
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has summoned Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) Chief Executive Julius Neequaye Kotey for questioning regarding his public claim of rejecting a GH¢4 million bribe to halt the new Digitalized Vehicle Registration Plate (DP) policy.
The invitation, confirmed in an OSP statement on Tuesday, aims to verify the allegations and identify the purported influencers behind the attempted corruption.
Kotey, appointed DVLA CEO in April 2025, revealed the incident in an October 25 interview on JoyNews, stating that “powerful individuals” approached him to abandon the initiative, which introduces RFID chips for tamper-proof plates to combat fraud and enhance road safety.
“I turned it down because integrity is non-negotiable,” Kotey said, describing the offer as pressure to delay the January 2026 rollout. The OSP, led by Kissi Agyebeng, emphasized that the probe will “ascertain the veracity of these serious claims and hold any culprits accountable.”
The digital plates, replacing traditional ones with regional identifiers and zonal codes, have sparked debate over privacy, as highlighted in Kotey’s recent clash with Public Accounts Committee Chair Abena Osei-Asare on October 27.
Kotey assured compliance with the Data Protection Act, 2012 (Act 843), clarifying that no personal names will appear on standard plates—only on paid personalized versions. The PAC scrutiny, part of an August 2025 Auditor-General review flagging GH¢42 million in redundant AFIS deals, adds layers to the investigation.
In a parallel development, the OSP has launched a probe into a sitting Council of State member over alleged corruption in gold trading licenses, focusing on conflicts of interest where the individual reportedly influenced approvals for a company with undisclosed ties. Sources indicate the inquiry, triggered by a whistleblower tip, involves five transactions worth $2.5 million, under the OSP Act, 2017 (Act 1034).
Kotey’s summons comes amid broader anti-corruption drives, including the August 2025 revocation of 278 mining licenses and probes into 33 ORAL cases.
