The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has clarified the scope of its newly announced diaspora service initiative, explaining that selected driver licensing services will soon be made accessible to Ghanaians living abroad—but without exporting its operations overseas.
The clarification follows public commentary after remarks by Deputy Chief Executive Julius Neequaye Kotey during the commissioning of a new DVLA office at Kumasi–Bantama, where he indicated that services would be extended to countries including the United States, Canada, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Germany.
Not an Overseas Expansion
In a strongly worded statement, the DVLA stressed that it does not intend to deploy permanent staff to Ghana’s embassies or establish foreign branches.
Instead, the Authority has entered into a collaborative arrangement with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ghana, to work through Ghana’s diplomatic missions abroad.
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Under the arrangement, embassies will facilitate access to selected DVLA services for qualified Ghanaian citizens domiciled outside the country.
Services to Be Offered
The services to be rolled out include:
- Issuance of International Driver’s Permits (IDP)
- Renewal of Ghanaian Driver’s Licences
The DVLA explained that the initiative is designed to ease administrative burdens on diaspora citizens who require valid documentation for driving abroad but face challenges travelling back to Ghana solely for renewals or permits.
Core Operations Remain in Ghana
The Authority emphasized that all regulatory, administrative, and operational processes will continue to be managed from Ghana. The overseas collaboration is strictly for facilitation purposes and does not represent a relocation or decentralization of its core functions.
Officials say the move forms part of broader public service reforms aimed at improving access, enhancing efficiency, and strengthening engagement with the Ghanaian diaspora.
The DVLA’s clarification seeks to dispel suggestions that the Authority is establishing permanent foreign operations, reiterating that the initiative is a service extension—not an operational shift.
The rollout timeline and detailed procedures are expected to be communicated through official channels once implementation frameworks are finalized.
