Transport Minister Joseph Bukari Nikpe called on the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) to measure the success of its reforms by the tangible benefits to motorists, rather than by how many projects it completes. In a speech read by his representative, Daniel Essel, at the DVLA’s 2026 Mid‑Year Performance Review Conference in Sunyani, Nikpe urged the Authority to focus on real‑world impact.
Speaking under the conference theme “Transforming DVLA for a Digitally‑Driven and Efficient 24‑Hour Service Culture,” the minister warned that digital platforms and new systems would be of little value if they did not make services faster, simpler and more accessible to ordinary Ghanaians. He said the true test of public‑sector transformation is whether citizens experience a meaningful improvement when accessing government services.
“Let us instead measure it by the difference these reforms make in the lives of the Ghanaian people,” Nikpe said. He highlighted practical indicators such as reduced waiting times at licensing offices, access to services outside conventional working hours and greater confidence in vehicle registration systems.
The minister acknowledged recent achievements, including the clearance of 440,000 backlogged driver’s licences and the launch of an RFID‑enabled number plate system that will be piloted in January 2027. Yet he stressed that technology alone will not deliver the desired transformation and urged the DVLA to invest in staff development, professionalism and service excellence.
“Technology can change processes, yet it is people who drive transformation,” Nikpe added. He also warned that digitalisation should not exclude citizens with limited access to technology, as the Authority moves toward a more digitally driven and extended‑hours service model.
Ultimately, the minister said, the reforms should restore public confidence in government institutions and create a more efficient road transport ecosystem.
