Transport Ministry to revise Road Traffic Regulations to cover commercial motorcycles, tricycles
Under the planned reforms, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) will be mandated to issue commercial driving and riding licenses, with compulsory training for applicants as a non-negotiable requirement.
The Ministry of Transport has begun processes to revise the Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2180), introducing a comprehensive framework for the use of motorcycles and tricycles as fare-paying passenger services.
Under the planned reforms, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) will be mandated to issue commercial driving and riding licenses, with compulsory training for applicants as a non-negotiable requirement.
Transport Minister Joseph Bukari Nikpe, in a speech read on his behalf by Deputy Minister Dorcas Affo-Toffey at the DVLA mid-year review conference in Ejisu, said the move forms part of efforts to support government’s 24-hour economic policy.
He stressed that the success of the new regulatory framework depends on discipline, commitment, and prudent resource use, urging DVLA leadership to play a central role in the policy reset.
Mr. Nikpe further indicated that Ghana is taking steps to accede to international conventions on road safety, including the 1949 and 1968 Conventions on Road Traffic and the 1968 Convention on Road Signs and Signals.
He explained that these global instruments provide a framework for harmonising national and regional road safety regulations, adding that aligning Ghana’s standards with international best practices would not only improve road safety but also create job opportunities for drivers and allied professionals.
DVLA CEO Julius Neequaye Kotey told participants that the Authority had expanded its compliance team to better enforce road safety laws and reduce accidents.
He also revealed that the DVLA is pursuing an office expansion plan to bring services closer to citizens. A new office has already been operationalised in Bole (Savannah Region), while others are expected soon in Dormaa, Osu, Tema, Nkoranza, Teshie-Nungua, Ashaiman, Dansoman, Akwatia, and Asamankese, among others.
Board Chairman George Spencer Quaye urged DVLA staff to share ideas and work collaboratively to reposition the Authority as a technology-driven institution that delivers world-class licensing and road safety services.
The five-day conference, themed “Resetting DVLA for an Efficient and Effective 24-hour Operation”, is reviewing the Authority’s half-year performance and developing strategies to meet future road safety and service delivery goals.
