Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority Inherited Over 440,000 Licence Application Backlog

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has disclosed that it inherited a backlog exceeding 440,000 driver’s licence applications, a challenge officials say posed significant operational and security risks.

To address the situation, the Authority established a 24-hour operations centre to centralise licence processing. The initiative aims to accelerate issuance while protecting the system from unauthorised access and the production of counterfeit licences.

Speaking on Breakfast Daily on Channel One TV on Friday, February 13, the DVLA’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Stephen Attuh, indicated that the intervention has helped clear approximately 400,000 applications.

Despite the progress, he acknowledged persistent complaints from applicants who say they have been waiting for their licences since 2023.

To further ease the backlog, the DVLA has expanded its round-the-clock services with the opening of an additional processing centre at Adenta. Similar 24-hour operations are also functioning at the ports in Takoradi and Tema to reduce system pressure.

Mr Attuh explained that when the current Chief Executive Officer assumed office, the scale of the backlog became evident, prompting the creation of the 24-hour centre to centralise and secure the system.

He added that the Authority plans to extend 24-hour operations to regional offices where demand justifies it. In locations where full round-the-clock service is not feasible, extended working hours using two shifts will be implemented, with full 24-hour service introduced when demand increases.