Abena Osei Asare, the Chairperson of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has finally reacted to her clash with the Chief Executive Officer of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority, Julius Neequaye Kotey, at the Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) sitting.
According to Abena Osei Asare, her attitude toward Julius Neequaye Kotey was not one of anger but that of someone executing her duties as PAC Chair.
Speaking in an interview on Channel One TV on November 10, 2025, Abena Osei Asare stated, “I wasn’t angry, but you know, when you are in a position, you have to live up to it. You came, you told us you were doing ABCD with reference to the number plates, and you are coming up with new security features. When we sit there, it’s about the people of Ghana, and we echo their concerns.
“When we give you the opportunity to share what you do, it’s not about Abena or the Ranking Member asking. But Ghanaians need answers.”
When quizzed about whether the matter had been resolved, Abena Osei stated, “I gave him the opportunity to answer, and he chose to answer the way he did.”
Recall the heated exchange was about concerns raised PAC chair about privacy and data protection under the DVLA’s new digitisation initiative.
The DVLA is introducing number plates embedded with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chips.
According to the DVLA boss, the RFID chips would enhance security and curb vehicle-related criminality.
The DVLA boss explained that the RFID-enabled plates would make it very difficult for external entities to tamper with or replicate vehicle information.
Nonetheless, PAC Chair Abena Osei Asare sought clarity on the scope of data to be embedded, whether the plates would bear vehicle owners’ surnames.
“I’m asking you a specific question. Is it going to have the user’s surname on the number plates?” she asked.
The DVLA CEO stated, “We don’t put names on number plates… I was wondering why that question. Sorry, but we don’t put names on number plates.”
His answer frustrated the Chair, who stated, “What are you telling me? People pay to have their names on number plates, and you sit here as the DVLA boss and tell me you don’t put numbers on number plates.
“Haven’t you seen specialised numbers with people’s surnames and personalised names on number plates? yes or no…. So why are you telling me you don’t put names on number plates?
Kotey clarified, “We don’t put names on number plates… So, I can explain that”.
Osei Asare stated, “Not that you can explain that. You said, you don’t expect me to ask you that question…that is what you said. You don’t expect me to ask you that question because people do not put their number plates, their names on their number plates.
“That is a blatant lie. You have people who pay for specialised number plates, and they have theirs, and if I’m asking you, you just mentioned that there are going to be security features.
“And I’m asking, is that going to include people’s names on that plate? And you said, you don’t expect me to ask you that question, are you not a DVLA boss?”
Joseph Bukari Nikpe, the Minister of Transport, attempted to calm tempers and provide clarification.
The Minister of Transport explained, “I think he was trying to explain that we have different types of numbers that we can acquire, so if you want …”
However, the DVLA boss, faced with the Committee’s insistence, withdrew comment, saying, “Honourable Chair, respectfully, I withdraw that statement.”
The PAC chair, Osei Asare, accepted the withdrawal but accepted the clarification, but insisted that the Committee’s scrutiny was motivated by public interest.
Also, the DVLA boss has said he chose not to argue back during the Public Accounts Committee engagement.
He highlighted that he didn’t want to be disrespectful, so he chose not to argue back.