The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has successfully registered 9,240 earth-moving machines across Ghana as part of a national initiative to monitor equipment linked to illegal mining activities.
Transport Minister Joseph Bukari-Nikpe announced this during the Government Accountability Series press briefing in Accra on Wednesday, September 17, 2025. He explained that the registration programme assigns unique identification numbers to heavy-duty machines, allowing regulators and security agencies to track their ownership and deployment.
“The DVLA has intensified efforts to register earth-moving equipment. These special identification numbers are shared with the Minerals Commission to help with monitoring and tracking,” Mr. Bukari-Nikpe said, noting that the ability to trace operators is crucial to curbing the widespread use of excavators in galamsey operations.
He emphasised that the 9,240 registered machines represent only part of a continuing nationwide exercise and urged equipment owners to comply. The minister added that the database is now accessible to both the Minerals Commission and security services for enforcement purposes.
Mr. Bukari-Nikpe also shared updates on reforms in the transport sector. He revealed that DVLA had cleared a backlog of 440,000 unprinted driver’s licence cards as of December 2024, with all cards printed and distributed to DVLA offices across the country. Currently, 26,045 cards are undergoing lamination.
On service improvements, he announced that the DVLA had launched a 24-hour office at the Adenta bus terminal in Accra, which has been operating since May this year. Additional offices have been opened in Adenta, Buale, Asamankese, and Akotsi, with two more scheduled for commissioning in Dorma and Bechem later this month.
“These measures are designed to close the service gap and bring DVLA operations closer to citizens, especially in underserved areas,” he said.
Addressing transport fares, Mr. Bukari-Nikpe recalled that the government had negotiated a 15 per cent fare reduction effective May 24, 2025, following a drop in fuel prices — the biggest cut since the current fare-setting framework was introduced in 2015.
On road safety, he disclosed that 1,504 people had lost their lives in accidents during the first half of the year. He said the ministry was working on amendments to the Road Traffic Regulations to improve public education and strengthen enforcement aimed at reducing avoidable fatalities.
The minister reiterated that the government is committed to overhauling the transport sector under President John Dramani Mahama’s 24-hour economy initiative. He added that the upcoming Ghana Transport and Logistics Fair, set for September 22–24, 2025, at the World Trade Centre in Accra, will bring together industry stakeholders to explore innovations and collaborations.
“With your support, we are confident we can achieve the targets we have set to transform Ghana’s transport environment under the resetting Ghana agenda,” he concluded.
