The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has, over the past three months, closed down six private vehicle testing centres across the country for issuing roadworthiness certificates without conducting proper inspections.
According to the Chief Executive Officer of the DVLA, Julius Neequaye Kotey, the affected Private Vehicle Testing Stations (PVTS) neglected their core mandate by issuing reports without conducting the required inspections.
Speaking at the commissioning of three new vehicle inspection centres in Accra, Mr. Kotey stressed that the development undermines road safety and unfairly shifts public criticism onto the DVLA.
The DVLA boss emphasised the need for collective vigilance to ensure compliance among private testing centres, noting that the Authority relies heavily on their inspection reports in determining vehicle fitness.
“When they test, they issue a report. It is based on that report, whether qualification or disqualification, that DVLA makes a decision. So when you see rickety cars on the road, sometimes DVLA is being lampooned, but on this note I want to tell us that we should all keep an eye on every PVTS.
“We are all Ghanaians and it is our responsibility to ensure that every institution is efficient. In the past three months, we have closed about six PVTS that did not inspect cars yet they issued reports suggesting that the cars are roadworthy,” he stated.
He added that the move forms part of broader efforts to sanitise the vehicle inspection system and enhance road safety standards across the country.
