The Chamber of Auto Data Ghana has called for urgent institutional collaboration to address the growing problem of chassis number cloning within Ghana’s vehicle registration system, warning that the practice is becoming increasingly sophisticated and is harming legitimate vehicle importers.
The concerns were raised during a meeting between executives of the Chamber and representatives of the Ghana Standards Authority, where discussions focused on improving conditions within the vehicle importation and registration space.
Leading the Chamber’s delegation, Executive Secretary George Dumenu said the group has observed a worrying shift in fraudulent vehicle registration practices over the years.
According to him, previous schemes largely involved the use of documents from accident vehicles or vehicles that were no longer in use to fraudulently register other vehicles. However, he noted that the trend has now evolved into the cloning of chassis numbers, also known as Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs).
Mr. Dumenu explained that the Chamber has gathered considerable data backing its claims and believes the issue is affecting confidence within the vehicle importation sector while exposing genuine importers and buyers to unnecessary risk.
He appealed to the Ghana Standards Authority to engage the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) on behalf of industry stakeholders to help tighten verification systems and clamp down on fraudulent registrations.
Representatives of the Ghana Standards Authority acknowledged the concerns raised by the Chamber and assured the delegation that the matter would be escalated to management for further engagement. They further indicated that the Authority remains committed to working with relevant institutions to support efforts aimed at resolving the issue.
Industry observers say the growing use of cloned chassis numbers poses wider risks to customs compliance, revenue assurance and vehicle traceability, particularly at major entry points such as Tema Port, where large volumes of imported vehicles are processed each year.
For the Chamber of Auto Data Ghana, closer cooperation between regulators and industry players remains key to protecting legitimate businesses and restoring trust within the sector.
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