Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), Julius Neequaye Kotey, has called for strict discipline, transparency, and fairness in road safety enforcement, stressing that there should be “no protocols” when it comes to protecting lives on Ghana’s roads.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, Mr Kotey addressed growing concerns about DVLA operations, including road checks, penalties, and the general perception of corruption.
“We also realise that the public has this stereotype and misconception about DVLA. They feel we’re corrupt, we’re thieves – and I think things must change,” he said frankly.
Mr Kotey emphasised that traffic enforcement is not meant to harass motorists, but rather to ensure their safety.
He shared how even his personal friends sometimes call to complain after being stopped by DVLA officers.
“Sometimes they bring people to the office, and I don’t want to mingle with what happens over there. It’s their work that is being done. My friends call me and say, ‘Your boys have arrested me,’ and I say, ‘My brother, it’s your life I’m trying to save. Let’s do what is right,’” he said.
He called for a stop to favouritism in the licensing process, warning that bypassing standards puts lives at risk.
“At DVLA, we should do away with protocols. I encouraged the health sector to do the same. Because when I give you a licence and you don’t know how to drive, it’s just like giving a gun to an armed robber to protect the community,” Mr Kotey stated.
He also highlighted the risks posed by unqualified drivers and poorly maintained vehicles.
“When your car suspension is not good, your tyres are not good; you don’t expect me to tell my workers to let you go. I will tell them to encourage you to go and do what is right,” he added.
Mr Kotey concluded by urging Ghanaians to uphold honesty and moral standards in all aspects of public life.
“We have to be frank with Ghana. We can’t defend everything. What is not right is not right; what is right is right,” he said.
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