 has announced a major reform in Ghana’s vehicle registration system, revealing that starting January 1, 2026, vehicle licence plates will be issued in the names of individual owners rather than the vehicles themselves.){kind=link}
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has announced a major reform in Ghana’s vehicle registration system, revealing that starting January 1, 2026, vehicle licence plates will be issued in the names of individual owners rather than the vehicles themselves.
The new policy, according to the DVLA, forms part of broader efforts to enhance road safety, curb vehicle-related crimes, and improve traceability within the country’s transport system.
In a statement issued on October 3, 2025, the Authority explained that under the new system, each vehicle number will be uniquely linked to its owner, who will bear full responsibility for its use and safekeeping.
“When vehicles are transferred from the immediate owner, that owner owes a responsibility to himself to take off the number to allow the new owner to go through the process to secure an assigned number to be fixed on the vehicle,” the DVLA stated.
The reform means vehicle owners must now treat their number plates as personal identifiers, similar to how individuals protect national ID cards or driver’s licences. This change aims to ensure accountability and transparency in vehicle ownership and transfer processes.
According to the DVLA, the initiative will enable security agencies to easily trace a vehicle’s ownership history, thereby strengthening law enforcement and improving the fight against car theft, cloning, and other road-related crimes.
The Authority has urged the public to familiarise themselves with the new directive ahead of its implementation and assured that detailed guidelines will be issued before the policy takes effect.