Foreign Affairs Ministry Denies Approval for DVLA Overseas Licence Services

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has rejected reports suggesting it authorised the deployment of staff from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) to register or renew driving licences for Ghanaians living overseas.

In a statement issued on Thursday, February 26, the Ministry stated that it has neither directed Ghana’s diplomatic missions to facilitate such an arrangement nor granted approval to any organisation to implement it. The Ministry further indicated that it is unaware of any new government policy backing the reported initiative and has no record of formal consultations, financial commitments, or policy directives supporting the claim.

The clarification comes after comments made by DVLA Chief Executive Officer, Julius Neequaye Kotey, during the commissioning of a new DVLA office in Bantama, Kumasi, on Tuesday, February 25. He reportedly informed staff of plans to travel to countries including the United States, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom to provide licensing services to Ghanaians abroad.

The announcement generated public debate, with critics questioning the prioritisation of overseas deployments when several local DVLA offices continue to struggle with staffing and logistical constraints.

In response, the DVLA issued its own statement explaining that it had entered into an arrangement with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to collaborate with Ghana’s embassies in selected countries to deliver specific services to eligible Ghanaian citizens abroad.

However, the Foreign Affairs Ministry has maintained that no formal approval or policy directive has been issued to support or operationalise such a plan.