The Weija Office of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) in Accra has generated GH¢8,626,620 in the first quarter of this year.
The figure represents 6.84 per cent increase when compared with the GH¢8,036,161 generated within the same period last year.
It also accounts for 31.4 per cent of the GH¢27,500,000 target set for the office to achieve this year.
The Weija Office Manager, Roselyn Ahensah, made this known when the DVLA Board, led by its Chairman, Frank Davis, visited the office on Thursday.
Accompanied by other high-ranking officials of DVLA, the visit enabled them to assess the working environment of the office and inspect ongoing construction of a new office building.
Highlighting the achievements of the office, Mrs Ahensah said the office had registered 4,802 vehicles, a three per cent increase, when compared with 4,540 registered within the period last year.
Last year, she said, the office generated GH¢24,955,530 and registered a total of 11,965 vehicles.
Mrs Ahensah attributed the office’s achievements to good management, effective communication and customer service, good client relations, media engagement, public sensitisation and hard work.
She said the office would work hard to exceed its targets through various strategies, including collaboration with stakeholders such as the National Road Safety Authority, to do more sensitisation on road safety regulations.
On challenges, Mrs Ahensah said the prevalence of middle men, popularly known as goro boys, was worrying.
“Our major problem here is goro boys, they act like our competitors, because the office is an open one and we have other companies and offices within our office.
The security is not tight, they can just walk in and pretend they are going to the other offices and you cannot prevent them, so they come in to do what they want to do and go out,” she said.
However, Mrs Ahensah expressed hope that the problem would be resolved when its new office is completed.
While work continues on the building, she cautioned the public against dealing with ‘goro boys’ as the new DVLA system and portal allowed applicants to register their vehicles in the comfort of their homes.
The Project Manager of the new office project, Mr Ntumy Yeboah, said the work was 70 per cent complete, and was expected to be handed over to the management in July this year.
Mr Davis commended the office for its great work, and urged staff to continue working hard to achieve their goals.
He also urged contractors to speed up work to complete the project on the stipulated time, so that the officers would move in to curb the menace of goro boys.
BY CECILIA LAGBA YADA