- The DVLA says about five per cent of vehicle number plates currently in use across Ghana are counterfeit
- Authorities are pushing to centralise number plate embossing under a single authorised company to improve security
- The DVLA has described number plates as security documents that require strict control
The Chief Executive Officer of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), Julius Neequaye Kotey, has disclosed that approximately five per cent of vehicle number plates currently in circulation in Ghana are fake.
Speaking on TV3 on Sunday, January 25, Mr Kotey said the situation underscores the urgent need to centralise the embossing of vehicle number plates under a single authorised entity to enhance security and protect motorists.
He explained that number plates are security-sensitive documents and should not be produced without strict regulation.
“From a security standpoint, this is about protecting the Ghanaian consumer. You cannot allow just anyone, anywhere, to emboss number plates. A number plate is a security document, and we must be deliberate and cautious about who produces them and for whom,” he said.
Mr Kotey noted that DVLA data shows nearly five per cent of vehicles recorded in the system are operating with counterfeit plates obtained through various illegal methods. In some cases, he said, fraudsters exploit vehicles involved in accidents and declared beyond repair by copying their registration numbers and producing duplicate plates.
He further explained that some offenders obtain numbers through police stations, use registration details from farm equipment that does not operate on public roads, or photocopy customs documents to replicate numbers on vehicles that have not paid import duties.
To address the problem, Mr Kotey announced the rollout of new DVLA number plates embedded with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chips, which he said would significantly reduce plate cloning and related fraud.
He explained that the system includes cloning detection technology and RFID readers to be installed on major highways. Vehicles with plates not registered in the DVLA database would automatically trigger alerts at a central command centre.
He added that the RFID-enabled plates would also integrate with the upcoming toll booth system being developed in collaboration with the Ghana Highway Authority, allowing seamless communication between vehicles and toll infrastructure.
