Transport Minister charges DVLA, NRSA to lead road safety reforms

The Minister of Transport, Mr Joseph Bukari Nikpe, has challenged members of the newly constituted governing boards of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) and the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) to champion innovation, institutional reforms, and road safety to safeguard lives.

He noted that the world was changing rapidly, therefore, institutions such as the DVLA and NRSA must be prepared and adaptable to the changing dynamics to stay relevant.

Speaking at the inauguration in Accra yesterday, Mr Nikpe congratulated the board members and said their appointments clearly showed the President’s trust in their skills and honesty.

“Your new roles are a testament to the trust that the President has reposed in you, we are optimistic about the impact your leadership will have on Ghana’s road transport system,” the Minister noted. 

Mr Nikpe emphasised the critical role DVLA plays in ensuring that vehicles on the roads were roadworthy and that drivers were professionally trained and licensed. 

With the fast-evolving nature of global transport systems, he charged the DVLA Board to support the authority to embrace innovation and adopt technologies that align with new mobility trends such as electric and autonomous vehicles.

The DVLA, he highlighted, established in 1999 through Act 569 to replace the Vehicle Examination and Licensing Division (VELD), now has an expanded mandate that goes beyond issuing licenses to promoting road safety and compliance. 

The Minister urged the newly inaugurated board to work collaboratively with management to strengthen these responsibilities and improve service delivery.

In support of government’s 24-Hour Economy initiative, he revealed that the DVLA had already commenced a 24-hour operation at its Adenta office and encouraged the board to push for similar expansions across other centres.

Turning to the NRSA, Mr Nikpe stressed on the increasing rate of road traffic fatalities in the country, describing the trend as “alarming” and primarily driven by driver indiscipline and reckless road use. 

He also underlined the need for urgent and sustained interventions to address this national crisis.

He noted that the mandate of the NRSA had been significantly enhanced through the National Road Safety Authority Act, 2019 (Act 993) and it’s enabling regulation (L.I. 2468), giving the authority the legal power to enforce compliance with road safety standards and regulate transport services.

“With this legal backing, I expect the new NRSA Board to lead the charge in implementing bold and result-oriented strategies that will reduce crashes and save lives,” he indicated.

The minister, however, cautioned both boards to respect the governance structure, reminding them that their roles were policy and oversight not executive management. 

He further stressed that all boards remain under the supervision of the ministry and are expected to report accordingly.

Again, Mr Nikpe assured that the ministry would provide the necessary policy guidance and logistical support for both institutions to succeed in delivering on their mandates.

The newly constituted DVLA Board is chaired by Mr George Spencer Quaye while NRSA Board is chaired by Mr Chemah Joshua Yaadang.

BY CECILIA YADA LAGBA