The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), in collaboration with the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service, on Thursday undertook a special enforcement exercise to clamp down on vehicles using fake, expired and unauthorised number plates in parts of East Legon and its environs in Accra.
The operation, which lasted over three hours, formed part of ongoing efforts to sanitise the country’s roads and ensure compliance with approved vehicle registration regulations.
Speaking in an exclusive interview on the sidelines of the exercise, the Assistant Manager for Compliance and Enforcement Unit at the DVLA, Mr Kofi Ansah Appenteng, said the operation was primarily aimed at identifying vehicles using invalid DV plates, particularly those issued for 2026, as well as expired plates from 2025 and earlier.
“We are also looking out for what we describe as ‘stylish number plates’ — plates that are not prescribed by the DVLA,” he explained.
Mr Appenteng noted that enforcement officers deployed digital operational tablets to verify the authenticity of number plates in real time. According to him, the devices contain a database of serial numbers issued by the DVLA, enabling officers to cross-check details provided by motorists.
“Our team is checking logbooks and verifying whether the serial numbers on the plates correspond with what we have in our system. That is why you see officers asking detailed questions during the exercise,” he said.
He revealed that preliminary investigations by the authority had uncovered widespread use of forged number plates, including fake DV plates purportedly issued for 2026.
“Our investigations show that a lot of forged plates are in the system. It became necessary for us to embark on this enforcement exercise to uncover the extent of the situation,” he added.
Mr Appenteng further warned that the DVLA would not hesitate to prosecute offenders, stressing that individuals found using forged number plates or counterfeit DV stickers would face legal action.
“It has come to our attention that even some of the DV stickers issued at the ports are being forged. Anyone found culpable will be prosecuted,” he cautioned.
He indicated that the exercise, which began about a month ago, was part of a broader nationwide compliance initiative, with Thursday’s operation intended to give the public a clearer picture of the infractions on Ghana’s roads.
At the end of the exercise, several suspected fake and unauthorised number plates were seized, with officials hinting that further enforcement actions would be intensified in the coming weeks.
The DVLA has therefore urged motorists to regularise their documentation and ensure strict adherence to approved number plate specifications to avoid sanctions.
By Kingsley Asiedu
