Foreign Affairs Ministry distances itself from DVLA overseas licence plan

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has dismissed reports claiming it approved the deployment of Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) staff to register or renew driving licences for Ghanaians living abroad.

In a statement issued on Thursday, February 26, the Ministry said it has neither issued directives to Ghana’s diplomatic missions nor granted approval to any entity for such an arrangement. It added that it is unaware of any new government policy on the matter and has no record of formal engagement, financial commitments, or policy directives supporting the claims.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to state categorically that it has neither issued a directive to our diplomatic missions abroad nor granted approval to any entity for such an arrangement.”

The clarification follows comments by DVLA Chief Executive Officer Julius Neequaye Kotey at the commissioning of a new DVLA office in Bantama, Kumasi, on Tuesday, February 25. He told staff they would be travelling to provide licensing services in several countries, including the United States, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.

The remarks sparked widespread debate, with critics questioning the use of public funds to deploy government workers abroad when many local DVLA offices continue to face staffing and logistical challenges.

In response to the criticism, the DVLA issued a statement on Thursday, February 26, clarifying that it had entered into an arrangement with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to collaborate with Ghana’s embassies in selected countries to provide specific services to qualified Ghanaian citizens living abroad.

However, the Foreign Affairs Ministry maintains that no official approval or policy directive has been issued to facilitate such a plan.